Rawlings Jr. posts bond, regains freedom

Eric Rawlings Jr. posted bond and regained his freedom on Thursday after a judge agreed to alter the charges and bond on his case the day prior.

Rawlings was initially charged with the kidnapping of two Vicksburg children under statute MS Code § 97-3-53, kidnapping. Initially his bond was set at $400,000 by Judge Angela Carpenter.

Eric Rawlings, Jr. (Photo by David Day)

After the initial apparance of Ronneisha Evans, believed to have been with Rawlings during the incident, attorney Jerry Campbell argued that Evans is the mother of the two children. He argued that her actions shouldn’t be classified as kidnapping. Instead, he suggests that she may have merely failed to adhere to a court order.

Following that proceeding, Campbell spoke with Judge James Chaney who agreed to change the charges from Rawlings to be under statute MS Code § 97-3-51, Interstate removal of child under age 14 by noncustodial parent or relative and lowered his bond to $20,000.

After being released on Thursday, it is reported one of the first things on the family’s mind was where to eat in celebration.