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| From $500 to $100,000: Bond in Montgomery fondling case goes back up | From $500 to $100,000: Bond in Montgomery fondling case goes back up |
| (7 days later) | |
| A 44-year-old day laborer’s bond was raised from $500 to $100,000 Friday, reflecting concerns that he might try to flee the area after being accused of fondling a 6-year-old girl whose mother hired him to do work at her home in Montgomery County. | A 44-year-old day laborer’s bond was raised from $500 to $100,000 Friday, reflecting concerns that he might try to flee the area after being accused of fondling a 6-year-old girl whose mother hired him to do work at her home in Montgomery County. |
| The move comes after several days of legal wrangling over the terms under which the laborer, Jose Campos-Gonzalez, should be held in jail. He was arrested Monday, ordered held on $100,000 bond, had that total reduced to $500, and had it raised Friday. | The move comes after several days of legal wrangling over the terms under which the laborer, Jose Campos-Gonzalez, should be held in jail. He was arrested Monday, ordered held on $100,000 bond, had that total reduced to $500, and had it raised Friday. |
| “I see the defendant clearly as a flight risk. There’s absolutely no question about it,” District Judge Holly D. Reed said from the bench Friday. | “I see the defendant clearly as a flight risk. There’s absolutely no question about it,” District Judge Holly D. Reed said from the bench Friday. |
| One key factor in Reed’s decision: In the five days that Campos-Gonzalez has been held in jail, he has been unable to provide a verified, local address. | One key factor in Reed’s decision: In the five days that Campos-Gonzalez has been held in jail, he has been unable to provide a verified, local address. |
| The question of Campos-Gonzalez’s immigration status also surfaced Friday. | |
| During the hearing, a bailiff said that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had shown up at the courthouse. “They’re waiting for him downstairs if he’s released,” the bailiff said. | During the hearing, a bailiff said that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had shown up at the courthouse. “They’re waiting for him downstairs if he’s released,” the bailiff said. |
| The charge of third-degree sex offense against Campos-Gonzalez stems from alleged events on the evening of March 23. | The charge of third-degree sex offense against Campos-Gonzalez stems from alleged events on the evening of March 23. |
| A woman who lives in the county’s 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. | A woman who lives in the county’s 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| He quickly apologized to the girl, prosecutors said, and he and the other worker left the house. The girl then told her mother that “the man in the red shirt” had fondled her, according to investigators. | He quickly apologized to the girl, prosecutors said, and he and the other worker left the house. The girl then told her mother that “the man in the red shirt” had fondled her, according to investigators. |
| Police went to the 7-Eleven and eventually concluded that “Felipe” was Campos-Gonzalez. He was taken in for questioning and admitted to fondling the girl, court records state, and was booked into jail, where a court commissioner set his bond for $100,000. | Police went to the 7-Eleven and eventually concluded that “Felipe” was Campos-Gonzalez. He was taken in for questioning and admitted to fondling the girl, court records state, and was booked into jail, where a court commissioner set his bond for $100,000. |
| As is standard for defendants in Maryland, Campos-Gonzalez had his initial bond reviewed by a judge. Reed did so on Tuesday. | As is standard for defendants in Maryland, Campos-Gonzalez had his initial bond reviewed by a judge. Reed did so on Tuesday. |
| A Montgomery public defender put forth reasons to lower the bond: Campos-Gonzalez has no record of convictions and no record of failing to show up for court. The charges against him were, at this point, just allegations, the public defender said | A Montgomery public defender put forth reasons to lower the bond: Campos-Gonzalez has no record of convictions and no record of failing to show up for court. The charges against him were, at this point, just allegations, the public defender said |
| And the county agency that monitors pretrial 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 pretrial 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. |
| Reed reduced Campos-Gonzalez’s bond to $500 and imposed those restrictions. He said he was “very reluctantly” doing so. | Reed reduced Campos-Gonzalez’s bond to $500 and imposed those restrictions. He said he was “very reluctantly” doing so. |
| Prosecutors moved to have the bond increased — citing concerns over flight and public safety. | Prosecutors moved to have the bond increased — citing concerns over flight and public safety. |
| “The state has grave concerns if the defendant is released into the public,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Deborah Feinstein, who had called the allegations “appalling.” | “The state has grave concerns if the defendant is released into the public,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Deborah Feinstein, who had called the allegations “appalling.” |
| In court Friday, Public Defender Cristina Lindsay said Campos-Gonzalez has ties to the community, with a sister who is willing to let him stay with her. Lindsay questioned the validity of what detectives described as a confession in court papers, suggesting that Campos-Gonzalez may have been coerced or had his words twisted. | In court Friday, Public Defender Cristina Lindsay said Campos-Gonzalez has ties to the community, with a sister who is willing to let him stay with her. Lindsay questioned the validity of what detectives described as a confession in court papers, suggesting that Campos-Gonzalez may have been coerced or had his words twisted. |
| “We’re here to argue whether this man deserves the right to enjoy his liberty, with conditions, before there has been any finding that he did anything wrong,” Lindsay said. | “We’re here to argue whether this man deserves the right to enjoy his liberty, with conditions, before there has been any finding that he did anything wrong,” Lindsay said. |
| She added that Campos-Gonzalez “is scared out of his mind and wants to resolve this issue and wants to come to court.” |