A lawyer for a convicted rapist charged with murdering Macon native Jennifer Ewing on the Silver Comet bike trail said Monday he plans to ask Georgia's capital defenders office to help with the case. Tom Driggers, chief public defender for the Paulding Judicial Circuit, also said he expects the case against Michael William Ledford will go before the grand jury in late August. An initial hearing for Ledford was held Monday before Chief Magistrate Martin E. Valbuena. Ledford, 43, wore wrist and ankle restraints and a bulletproof vest as he heard the charges against him: felony murder based on kidnapping, and making false statements. Paulding County District Attorney Drew Lane said other charges are being considered, depending on the ongoing investigation and crime lab tests.