Murder suspect arrested for fifth time since bonding out

Submitted photo.

An accused murderer who still faces trial for the 2009 shooting death of a 30-year-old Aiken man has been arrested five times since the homicide arrest two years ago, and he may be free again on bond.

Freddie Lee Simpkins, 22, was arrested Tuesday and charged with second degree burglary. His bond was set at $25,000.

He was stopped for speeding by an Aiken County Sheriff's Office deputy around 9 a.m., and during the traffic stop, the deputy noticed a large, flat-screen television in his car, which Simpkins reportedly told the deputy he had purchased from a friend.

The deputy made contact with neighboring law enforcement agencies and learned the television had been stolen from a home in Jackson, police said.

Simpkins was arrested and jailed at the Aiken County detention center, where he has been a number of times since he and Jeremy Holloway, 22, were connected to the Sept. 8, 2009, shooting death of 30-year-old Donald McCalla that occurred at 411 Abbeville Ave., according to officials.

Simpkins' bond on weapons and a murder charge was set at $150,000. He paid the bond and was released.

The following February, Simpkins had another run-in with the law, officials reported. He was charged with grand larceny and simple larceny.

He bonded out of jail on those charges, as well. His bond was set around $16,000 that time.

In April 2010, he was charged with simple possession of marijuana and taken to the Aiken County detention center, officials said. He was released on a $570 bond.

Bond amounts on additional arrests were not available at presstime.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.