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| Suspect in child fondling case due in court amid wrangle over bond | Suspect in child fondling case due in court amid wrangle over bond |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 44-year-old day laborer, accused of fondling a 6-year-old girl in Montgomery County after he was hired by the child’s mother, is due in court Friday in the latest hearing over what kind of bond conditions should be assigned in the case. | A 44-year-old day laborer, accused of fondling a 6-year-old girl in Montgomery County after he was hired by the child’s mother, is due in court Friday in the latest hearing over what kind of bond conditions should be assigned in the case. |
| The suspect, Jose Campos-Gonzalez of El Salvador, was arrested on Monday. At the Montgomery jail, a court commissioner ordered him held on a $100,000 bond. The next day, however, a judge lowered the bond to $500. | The suspect, Jose Campos-Gonzalez of El Salvador, was arrested on Monday. At the Montgomery jail, a court commissioner ordered him held on a $100,000 bond. The next day, however, a judge lowered the bond to $500. |
| Prosecutors then filed an emergency request to increase the bond. On Thursday, a judge ordered the decision put on hold — and Campos-Gonzalez held behind bars — pending a hearing set for Friday afternoon. | Prosecutors then filed an emergency request to increase the bond. On Thursday, a judge ordered the decision put on hold — and Campos-Gonzalez held behind bars — pending a hearing set for Friday afternoon. |
| At issue are the conditions — and how much money would have to put up — for Campos-Gonzalez to be able to leave jail pending possible trial or further court action. | At issue are the conditions — and how much money would have to put up — for Campos-Gonzalez to be able to leave jail pending possible trial or further court action. |
| Among the arguments that the bond should be relatively low: Campos-Gonzalez has no record of convictions and no record of not failing to show up for court. He doesn’t have much money. | Among the arguments that the bond should be relatively low: Campos-Gonzalez has no record of convictions and no record of not failing to show up for court. He doesn’t have much money. |
| And the county agency that monitors pre-trial suspects said he would be a good candidate for release, providing he surrendered his passport, remained at a local address and stayed away from children. | And the county agency that monitors pre-trial suspects said he would be a good candidate for release, providing he surrendered his passport, remained at a local address and stayed away from children. |
| Citing those reasons, Montgomery County District Court Judge Holly D. Reed on Tuesday reduced Campos-Gonzalez’s bond to $500. He said he was “very reluctantly” doing so. | Citing those reasons, Montgomery County District Court Judge Holly D. Reed on Tuesday reduced Campos-Gonzalez’s bond to $500. He said he was “very reluctantly” doing so. |
| Prosecutors objected, and filed their emergency motion. | |
| Campos-Gonzalez has a Salvadorian passport, but no other forms of ID or known ties to the United States — and represents a flight risk, prosecutors argued. He also hasn’t been able to give the jail a permanent address in the county, said Assistant State Attorney Deborah Feinstein. | Campos-Gonzalez has a Salvadorian passport, but no other forms of ID or known ties to the United States — and represents a flight risk, prosecutors argued. He also hasn’t been able to give the jail a permanent address in the county, said Assistant State Attorney Deborah Feinstein. |
| Feinstein also cited the fondling allegations in the case, calling them “appalling.” | Feinstein also cited the fondling allegations in the case, calling them “appalling.” |
| On the evening of March 23, a woman who lives in the Montgomery Village community drove to a nearby 7-Eleven to hire two day laborers to help pack her home for a move, according to police allegations filed in court. She knew the men only as Felipe and Armando, according to the records. | On the evening of March 23, a woman who lives in the Montgomery Village community drove to a nearby 7-Eleven to hire two day laborers to help pack her home for a move, according to police allegations filed in court. She knew the men only as Felipe and Armando, according to the records. |
| Back at her home, Felipe went upstairs to dismantle an armoire. The 6-year-old girl also was in the room. The man put his hands under her underwear and fondled her, according to the police. | Back at her home, Felipe went upstairs to dismantle an armoire. The 6-year-old girl also was in the room. The man put his hands under her underwear and fondled her, according to the police. |
| “Afterwards, ‘Felipe’ told her that he was sorry,” police wrote. | “Afterwards, ‘Felipe’ told her that he was sorry,” police wrote. |
| The two workers then left the home. The girl told her mother that “the man in the red shirt” had fondled her, according to the allegations. | The two workers then left the home. The girl told her mother that “the man in the red shirt” had fondled her, according to the allegations. |
| Police went to the 7-Eleven and eventually concluded that “Felipe” was Jose Campos-Gonzalez. He was taken in for questioning, admitted to fondling the girl, and was charged with third-degree sex offense, police wrote. | Police went to the 7-Eleven and eventually concluded that “Felipe” was Jose Campos-Gonzalez. He was taken in for questioning, admitted to fondling the girl, and was charged with third-degree sex offense, police wrote. |
| In court on Thursday, Feinstein said there was additional information in the case that perhaps Reed, the judge, hadn’t known when he set the $500 bond. Feinstein said that during questioning by detectives, Campos-Gonzalez agreed that he “could use some help” to halt his attraction to little girls. | In court on Thursday, Feinstein said there was additional information in the case that perhaps Reed, the judge, hadn’t known when he set the $500 bond. Feinstein said that during questioning by detectives, Campos-Gonzalez agreed that he “could use some help” to halt his attraction to little girls. |
| A defense attorney argued for a lower bond on Thursday, citing Campos-Gonzalez’s lack of criminal record and the status of the case. “These are allegations,” she said. | A defense attorney argued for a lower bond on Thursday, citing Campos-Gonzalez’s lack of criminal record and the status of the case. “These are allegations,” she said. |
| District Judge Barry Hamilton continued the hearing until Friday, so that it could be heard before Reed. | District Judge Barry Hamilton continued the hearing until Friday, so that it could be heard before Reed. |
| Prosecutors declined to comment on Campos-Gonzalez’s immigration status after Thursday’s hearing. | Prosecutors declined to comment on Campos-Gonzalez’s immigration status after Thursday’s hearing. |
| Police ask that anyone with information about Campos-Gonzalez call 240-773-5400. | Police ask that anyone with information about Campos-Gonzalez call 240-773-5400. |