MACON, Ga. — A Macon man appeared before a judge on Wednesday after being accused of killing a 3-year-old boy during an early-morning hit-and-run.
John Paul Battle Jr. appeared in court — visibly shaken and breaking down in tears — before Macon Magistrate Judge Davis Jones Valencia.
He turned himself in on Wednesday after being tied to the death of Royal Rhodes, a 3-year-old boy who died Monday after leaving his hotel room at Suburban Studios in the early hours.
Rhodes would later be hit by a car on Riverside Drive, and the Bibb County Sheriff's Office believes Battle was driving the vehicle that hit Rhodes that morning.
Battle could not stop crying and had to go settle down before the hearing began.
When the hearing did begin, Valencia read the charges leveled against Battle: felony hit and run and felony homicide by vehicle.
Valencia did not grant bond, ordering him to remain in jail. He was then bound over to the Bibb County Superior Court for a commitment hearing.
Valencia also ordered Battle to have no contact with any of the victim's family members.
Royal's mother, Jasmine Barnes says he was an angel and playful child.
"I could have a rough day and I would see Roy, and he would just run to me and it was - it was his smile," Barnes said. "It was just a smile. The smile made everybody's day."
If convicted, Battle could receive a sentence between one and five years on the felony hit-and-run charges. For his vehicular homicide charges, Battle could receive three to 15 years in prison.
After the hearing, Battle was walked from the Magistrate Court chambers and taken back to the Bibb County jail.
Ellie Millikan contributed reporting to this story