$10 million bond ordered for Nelson Township man charged with raping 9-day-old baby
RAVENNA − A Portage County judge has ordered that a $10 million bond for a Nelson Township man accused of raping a 9-day-old baby.
Judge Laurie J. Pittman ordered the cash or surety bond Monday during arraignment for Steven M. Ferguson, 27, in Portage County Common Pleas Court.
Pittman’s order came shortly after Prosecutor Connie Lewandowski requested a $5 million bond, adding it was “appropriate” given the “seriousness” of the allegation.
“The defendant admitted he raped this (9-day-old) baby,” said Lewandowski. “The defendant also has a felony record, and has been in and out of the penitentiary numerous times.”
According to court records, including a complaint the Portage County Sheriff’s Office initially filed in Portage County Municipal Court in Ravenna, as well as a grand jury indictment, the baby was 9 days old at the time of the alleged offense on Aug. 3.
Following Lewandowski’s bond request, attorney Shawn Burns, a public defender recently appointed to represent Ferguson, did not make a specific request, but asked Pittman for a “reasonable bond.”
“The purpose of bond is not to sensationalize or be excessively punitive,” Burns said. “It’s to ensure the client’s appearance in court. My client will be here for all future court appearances. These are only allegations at this point.”
Pittman did not comment on her reasons for the high bond. It replaces a $500,000 bond previously set in municipal court.
Ferguson was accused of raping the infant girl after sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic incident at his Windham Parkman Road home during the late morning of Aug. 3. He is also accused of assaulting another man, a woman, and a 13-year-old girl during the same incident.
Through Burns, Ferguson pleaded not guilty to first-degree felony rape, second-degree felony sexual battery, third-degree felony gross sexual imposition and three counts of first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence during his arraignment.
Burns is scheduled for an Oct. 29 jury trial. He is also scheduled for a status conference on Sept. 10 and an Oct. 22 pretrial hearing.
A search of Portage County court records show only a couple of misdemeanor traffic cases in Ferguson’s past.
However, Burns said Ferguson recently lived in Akron, and, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records, he is currently on probation after serving time in prison for drug trafficking and drug possession in Summit County.
Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage County judge sets $10 million bond in rape of 9-day-old baby
#million #bond #ordered #Nelson #Township #man #charged #raping #9dayold #baby