4th defendant in Preston Lord case released from custody

A fourth person charged in the killing of Preston Lord has posted bail a month after he asked a judge to reconsider lowering his million-dollar bond.

Dominic Turner, 20, was released from custody on Oct. 5 and placed on electronic monitoring, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge reduced Turner's bond to $250,000 in September. Judge Bruce Cohen said if Turner posted bail, he would be on house arrest except for appointments with his lawyer.

Turner is one of seven people charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the Oct. 28, 2023, fatal group attack on Lord, 16, at a Halloween party in Queen Creek. He and two others face aggravated robbery charges in connection with a necklace that authorities say was taken from Lord's friend as the attack unfolded.

All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty.

A December investigation by The Arizona Republic detailed how Lord's death was tied to the "Gilbert Goons," a gang of teenagers who recorded their blitz-style attacks and shared many of them online.

Turner, in June, requested to have his bail reduced but was denied.

His lawyer tried again after another person charged in the case, 19-year-old Taylor Sherman, filed a similar request and was granted a lower bond. Turner and Sherman had similar circumstances and backgrounds, said Louis Spivack, Turner's attorney.

Spivack also argued that his client was not a flight risk, posed no risk to the community, had no criminal history, and had no ties to the Gilbert Goons. Spivack also questioned the weight of the evidence against Turner.

Prosecutors pushed back and said Turner's situation was different from Sherman's, including the fact that Turner has the additional aggravated robbery charge.

People who were at the party told Queen Creek police , according to a police report, that Turner first yanked a chain from Lord's friend and used it to play hot potato with other Goons. That exchange led to an assault that became the catalyst for the beating on Lord that soon followed, prosecutors say.

Turner took part in the attack on Lord by "kicking on" the teen, according to the police report.

Cohen ultimately sided with Turner's lawyer and lowered his client's bond. Cohen ordered Turner to submit to random drug tests and turn in his passport. He was also prohibited from using social media and barred from contacting victims, witnesses, co-defendants or anyone charged in related assault cases.

During the Sept. 3 hearing where Cohen lowered Turner's bond, he also dropped the bond amounts for Talan Renner, 17, and Jacob Meisner, 17.

Renner is in juvenile detention and cannot post his $500,000 bail until he is transferred to the adult justice system. His 18th birthday is this week, meaning he likely will soon be eligible for release.

Like Renner, Meisner is in juvenile detention and cannot post bail until he is transferred to the adult system. He could post his $350,000 bail as early as January.

Bonds have been reduced for nearly all defendants in the case despite the objections of prosecutors and Lord's family. Of the seven people charged, only one remains in custody on the original bond.

Treston Billey, 19, and Sherman were released after Cohen reduced their bonds in July. Talyn Vigil, 18, was released after he posted a million-dollar bond imposed in March. William "Owen" Hines, 18, remains in custody and has not requested a lower bond.

Elena Santa Cruz is a justice reporter for The Republic. Reach her at . Follow her on X .

Robert Anglen is an investigative reporter for The Republic. Reach him at . Follow him on X .