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Cody Allen Davis (left) is escorted to the Barnwell County Courtroom on August 21 for a motion for bond.
South Carolina law requires bond be granted to those charged with non-violent crimes unless a judge deems them a flight risk or a danger to the community.
When 29-year-old Cody Allen Davis was arrested on July 26 and later charged with involuntary manslaughter and a schedule I drug offense for distribution of fentanyl in connection to the death of 19-year-old Larry Joyner, bond was granted per state law.
According to the bond order signed by Judge Daniel Coble, the “defendant is not charged with a violent crime, so a bond must be set.”
Davis’ bond was set at $100,000 - $50,000 for each warrant with terms of no contact with the victim’s family, good behavior, and appearing at all upcoming court dates.
“Upon Mr. Davis’ arrest on July 26, the day after the overdose, bond was denied by the magistrate,” said the solicitor.
However, because the charge of involuntary manslaughter is considered non-violent, a bond must be set.
At the August 21 bond motion, Davis entered the Barnwell County Courthouse in handcuffs before the solicitor explained the facts of the case.
“On that night in the early morning hours of July 25, a young man ingested some drugs that were purchased from Mr. Davis,” said the solicitor.
According to statements made during court, Joyner and a juvenile victim purchased drugs from Davis. Cell phone conversations and mobile banking app records investigated by the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) confirmed this transaction.
Davis was arrested by BCSO after admitting to selling the drugs to the juvenile victim the night before Joyner died, according to the solicitor.
“Mr. Joyner overdosed as a result of ingesting those drugs. It was later determined that the drugs Mr. Davis had sold to Mr. Joyner and his friend under the auspices of them being percocet, were in fact fentanyl,” said the solicitor.
According to the solicitor, Joyner and the juvenile each took a pill and smoked marijuana before falling asleep at the juvenile’s family home. When the juvenile awoke around 4 a.m., Joyner was found deceased.
An autopsy report was received by the solicitor via email the morning of the Aug. 21 court proceedings. The autopsy found Joyner’s death was a result of fentanyl toxicity.
According to the defense, Davis had to contact another party in Williston to get the drugs.
“The two individuals contacted Mr. Davis to get these pills. Mr. Davis then had to contact another party in Williston and drive to Williston, the CashApp shows this as well, to purchase the pills from another party and then return back to the location where they met and gave the pills to [the juvenile],” stated the defense.
“He is not a big-time drug dealer, he had to go somewhere else to get what [the juvenile] had asked him for,” said the defense.
Davis has one prior conviction. In 2015, he was found guilty of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury. He was sentenced to eight years suspended to probation, which has since ended.
The defense also stated in Davis’ interviews with BCSO, he told the juvenile the pills were fentanyl, not percocet.
Through the proceedings, Joyner’s mother, Michelle Mansfield, was weeping in the arms of the victim’s advocate from the solicitor’s office. She provided a victim impact statement before the judge.
“Larry Joyner was my son. I just lost my daughter seven and a half months ago,” said Mansfield through bated breath. “Don’t let him do this to someone else.”
In December 2022, Mansfield’s daughter, 20-year-old Sydney Joyner, passed away as a result of an overdose. Mansfield now cares for Sydney’s son, Nolan.
“Based on this charge, we have to set bond,” said Judge Coble, who thanked Mansfield for her time and statement.
August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day, the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those who have died from overdose without stigma, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends.
Each year, events are held in support and remembrance across the globe.
On the day of awareness, the Axis I Center of Barnwell is holding a luminary lighting at 7:30 p.m. on the Circle in downtown Barnwell in honor of those impacted by overdose. The community is encouraged to decorate bags and free luminaries can be received by contacting the Axis I Center at (803) 541-1245 or visiting the center at 179 Fuldner Road in Barnwell.
For more info on International Overdose Awareness Day or to get involved, visit www.overdoseday.com/.
