Mahendra Patel, accused of attempted kidnapping, denies charges and is granted $10,000 bond
Mahendra Patel, a 57-year-old Indian-origin engineer, has been released on a $10,000 bond after spending 45 days in jail for alleged attempted kidnapping at a Walmart in Georgia. Patel, who strongly denies the charges, claims that he only tried to prevent a child from falling off a motorized cart, reported indiatoday.in.
Patel was arrested following a March 18 incident at a Walmart in Acworth, Georgia, where he was accused of attempting to abduct a two-year-old boy from 26-year-old Caroline Miller, who was riding a motorized cart with her children. Patel’s defense team argues that he reached out solely to ensure the child’s safety after Miller directed him to the Tylenol section.
Patel’s defense includes surveillance footage which led to the bond being granted. He maintains his innocence, stating he only acted out of concern for the child’s safety.
After initially being denied bond, Patel’s legal team presented surveillance footage from the store. Despite being partially obscured, the footage showed no signs of force or Patel attempting to flee the scene. This evidence led Cobb County Superior Court Judge A Gregory Poole to grant Patel a bond, stating, “I’m going to grant this man a bond. He’s entitled to a bond.”
Prosecutors opposed Patel’s release, citing his criminal history, including a federal conviction for conspiracy to defraud the US and a prior DUI arrest. However, Judge Poole dismissed concerns, noting that Patel remained at the Walmart after the incident and had strong ties to the community, such as owning property, having a family, and being involved in local volunteer work.
The bond was granted with strict conditions: Patel must abstain from drugs and alcohol, refrain from contacting the alleged victim or her family, and avoid visiting any Walmart locations. Patel was indicted on April 3 on charges of attempted kidnapping, simple assault, and simple battery. His attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, argued that the arrest was a result of a misunderstanding, with Patel even spending his birthday behind bars.
