$1M bond set for teen charged in Hoover veteran's murder

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BESSEMER, AL (WBRC) - A Jefferson County judge set a bond of more than $1 million for one of two teens charged with the murder of a Hoover war veteran killed outside his home in January.

Charleston Wells, 16, is accused of killing Mike Gilotti, a 33-year-old married father of two who was shot to death while leaving for the gym early in the morning on Jan. 5.

Ahmad Jaquan Johnson, 17, is also charged as an adult in Gilotti's murder. He was arrested on other charges on Jan. 7, two days after Gilotti's murder, and charged with murder and nine counts of breaking and entering vehicles on Feb. 4.

Police believe Wells and others were breaking into cars in Gilotti's neighborhood when they came across Gilotti as he was leaving his home just before 5 a.m.

Nine vehicles on Gilotti's street were broken into during the same time as the shooting, according to police.

On Monday, Judge David Hobdy set bond for Wells' murder charge at $1 million, plus $15,000 for each of his nine breaking and entering charges, bringing the total bond to $1,135,000.

Wells is charged as an adult with murder in Gilotti's death, but prosecutor and Jefferson County District Attorney Bill Veitch brought up details from Wells' juvenile record in his bond hearing.

Veitch painted a history of crime based on Wells' juvenile record to argue that the bond should not be set.

After hearing the prosecution's arguments, Judge Hobdy called it "the most disturbing thing I've heard since I've been on this bench and it won't be tolerated."

Veitch said Wells is suspected of breaking into cars in other cities, including Fultondale, Trussville and Pelham, in the days leading up to Gilotti's murder.

Although Wells has not been formally charged in the cases, prosecutors said evidence can connect him to each one.

On Dec. 28, 2015, four vehicles were broken into in Trussville. Veitch said the suspects rolled through neighborhoods, checking car doors to see if they were locked and stole a Tacoma.

The next day, on Dec. 29, the stolen Tacoma was found wrecked. A cell phone that reportedly belonged to Wells was inside it. It had his email and his name on it, Veitch said.

Later in December 2015 on Creekside Lane in Pelham, Veitch said two males got out of a vehicle and began checking for unlocked cars.

Veitch said the suspects began breaking into an unlocked car without realizing a man was still inside. The two suspects drew pistols, pulled the man out and stole his money and cell phone, Veitch said.

A police chase ensued shortly afterward and when police got to the vehicle, they saw the victim's phone had been used to call Wells' girlfriend, according to the DA.

Veitch also said about 24 hours before Mike Gilotti was killed, around 4:20 a.m. on Jan. 4, two males fired shots at a man in Fultondale when he came out of his home and headed to his vehicle.

None of the bullets hit the victim and he wasn't harmed. Veitch said they anticipate charges will be coming in that case soon.

In his arguments, Veitch referred to Wells being part of the M-Tre group and called it a gang.

"They are a gang. They like the visibility of it, they like the publicity of it," Veitch said.

Wells' defense attorney Charles Salvagio was upset that his client's juvenile record was brought up.

"I have never seen a person's juvenile record used in a bond hearing before," Salvagio said.

Wells' relatives who attended the bond hearing were also not happy about the outcome.

Mike Gilotti's father-in-law, Guy Higgins, issued a statement after Wells' bond was set:

On behalf of my daughter and family, we are pleased with the high bond set. We are also extremely grateful to the many law enforcement personnel and the Jefferson County Prosecutor's office involved in solving Mike Gilotti's murder. Their vigorous and diligent work to seek justice for Mike will hopefully make this a safer community. With God's grace and strength, we continue to move forward without being burdened by fear or hatred, but do want justice and no leniency for the murderers.

Check back with this story for updates.