TEXARKANA, Texas --The trial date for a man charged in an alleged murder-for-hire plot has been reset for May 13, according to court documents.
Cedric Ballard, 53, is scheduled to appear before Judge Bill Miller in Bowie County's 5th District Court.
Ballard was arrested in April 2022. Investigators think he conspired with Darquales McHenry, 35, in the death of Johnny Robinson, 52, over a disagreement with him.
McHenry was acquitted of murder by a Bowie County jury in December 2023.
Eric Marks, who was McHenry's court appointed attorney, said lack of physical evidence helped the jury reach its verdict of not guilty.
On Monday, Ballard's attorney, Shorty Barrett, filed a motion for bond reduction.
Ballard's bail is presently set at $1 million. The motion requests bail in the amount of $10,000.
"Unless bail is set in a reasonable amount, he will be forced to remain in jail pending disposition of this case. Defendant requests that his bail be reduced accordingly. The co-defendant in this charge was found not guilty, further making it reasonable that the bond should be reduced," the motion states.
Robinson was found unresponsive March 22, 2022, on a couch in his home in the 500 block of Melton Street. He was taken to Wadley Regional Medical Center, where he died the next day.
Due to the apparent nature of his injuries, police investigated the case as a suspicious death and sent Robinson's body to Dallas for an autopsy.