A Cobb County judge denied bond to former Floyd County Chief Magistrate Chris Mathis on Thursday morning, citing violations of Mathis’ bond conditions after his July 2010 arrest.

Mathis was charged in July 2010 with 27 various charges ranging from theft by taking, theft by deception and deposit account fraud. Following his arrest he was released on $500,000 bond.

He was jailed after being indicted on 54 counts in August.

He was arrested on a bench warrant in August on new charges of felony theft by taking and felony theft of livestock.

Harold Mantooth testified that in April of this year, Mathis was to have sold 21 head of cattle on his behalf and was supposed to give him a $10,770 check for the sale.

Mantooth said his father-in-law had been a friend of Mathis’ family and that Mathis had sold cattle for him before with no problems.

Mathis made numerous excuses as to why he didn’t have the check, Mantooth testified, but Mantooth was never paid for the cattle.

The new charges were based on the incident with Mantooth, according to the warrants.

“Do you personally oppose bond for Mr. Mathis,” District Attorney Leigh Patterson asked Mantooth.

“Yes, I do,” Mantooth answered.

Mantooth said he trusted Mathis in the past, but added just before he stepped down from the witness stand, “You pet a strange dog enough sooner or later you are going to get bit,” Mantooth said. “We got bit.”

He also testified that Mathis told him he was in Nashville with his girlfriend’s son. Mathis was not supposed to leave the state while on bond.

Judge Grant Brantley said the testimony that Mathis went to Nashville “gives the court some concern that he is a flight risk.”

Because he allegedly took money from Mantooth and now faces other charges, Brantley said, “He would likely commit other charges.”

Mathis’ attorney, J.J. Seifert, said the bond motion was filed so that Mathis could help with his defense and because of his health problems.

Mathis has gout, Seifert said, and the Floyd County Jail could not provide adequate care or provide Mathis the special diet he needed.

“I have spoken to the jail,” Patterson said. “They are adequately prepared to handle a variety of medical conditions, including his.”

Two witnesses took the witness stand for Mathis.

Pastor Gary Graves of Calvary Baptist Church testified that he had not met Mathis until the past summer but said he and the church would have supported Mathis if he were released.

Retired veterinarian and cattle farmer William Brooks said he had known Mathis all his life.

When asked if he had ever known Mathis to leave the area, Brooks said, “Not for any length of time.”

No trial date for Mathis has been set.