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Suspects bond set at $250K in slaying of South Forsyth grad
Seppenfield mug
Seppenfield

DAWSONVILLE — Bond has been set at $250,000 for the Dawsonville man accused in the shooting death of a popular coach and father.

Herman James "Bo" Seppenfield VII, 50, has been indicted on charges of felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony crime in connection with the Nov. 22 death of Brandon Weaver, 37, also of Dawson County.

Weaver, a graduate of South Forsyth High School who grew up in Forsyth County, died from shots fired at close range during a fight with Seppenfield in southeastern Dawson County.

The conditions of Seppenfield's bond were not immediately available, according to a spokeswoman for the Dawson County Clerk of Courts office.

Superior Court Judge Jason Deal also has set a $35,000 bond for Seppenfield's co-defendant, Tory Jude Miguez, also of Dawsonville.

Miguez's charges include possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony crime against another person and two counts of aggravated assault.

According to his bond conditions, Miguez can have not contact with Seppenfield, the witnesses in the case or the victim's family. He must also wear an electronic monitoring device.

The Nov. 22 fight on Whitney Place reportedly started when Weaver and another man arrived at the home to confront the people living there.

Authorities said Weaver's son had been at a birthday party at the home several hours earlier that evening and had called his dad to say he wanted to go home.

According to Dawson County Sheriff's Capt. Tony Wooten, the child felt uncomfortable about something going on at the party.

The confrontation escalated and shots were fired by Seppenfield, according to officials. Weaver was hit twice, once in the chest and once in the side. He died on the scene, a short time after first responders arrived at the home.

According to the indictment, Miguez used a handgun to strike and cause serious bodily injury to the male that arrived on scene with Weaver.

Wooten has said alcohol was involved.

Weaver’s survivors included his wife, three young sons and numerous family members and friends throughout many communities.

According to his obituary, Weaver graduated from South Forsyth in 1995. Forsyth County News records show he was a member of the newspaper’s 1994 All-County football team as a defensive end.

Weaver then went on to play football at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville and then Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D.