Here's the latest in the Tony Grant court case.RECAP:
Grant, who's the Vice President of the Greater Danbury NAACP, and served as executive director Pathways Danbury, a one on one mentoring program, was arrested in January on numerous charges stemming from an alleged sexual assault of minors (note: Grant is presently on administrative leave from the organization).
List of the charges filed against Grant on the day of his arrest are the following (click here to view the court document):
COUNT ONE: Sexual Assault in the Second Degree (on or about 10/2009). Violation: 53a-71(a)(10).
COUNT TWO: Risk of Injury Illegal Sexual Contact (on or about 10/2009). Violation:53-21(a)(2).
COUNT THREE: Sexual Assault in the Second Degree (on or about 12/2009). Violation 53a-71(a)(10).
COUNT FOUR: Risk of Injury Illegal Sexual Contact (on or about 12/2009). Violation:53-21(a)(2).
COUNT FIVE: Sexual Assault in the Second Degree (on or about 1/2010). Violation 53a-71(a)(10).
COUNT SIX: Risk of Injury Illegal Sexual Contact (on or about 1/2010). Violation:53-21(a)(2).
COUNT SEVEN: Risk of Injury (on or about 10/11/2009). Violation 53-21(a)(1).
COUNT EIGHT: Providing Alcohol to a Minor (on or about 10/11/2009). Violation 30-86(b)(2).
COUNT NINE: Risk of Injury (on or about 11/2009). Violation 53-21(a)(1).
COUNT TEN: Providing Alcohol to a Minor (on or about 11/2009). Violation 30-86(b)(2).
COUNT ELEVEN: Providing Alcohol to a Minor (on or about 06-08/2009). Violation 30-86(b)(2).
COUNT TWELVE: Risk of Injury (on or about 12/2009). Violation 53-21(a)(1).
Although he was free on 250,000 bond, at the start of his first hearing on Tuesday, Assistant State's Attorney Sharmese Hodge made a request to Judge Robin Pavia that Grant's bond be increased by 150,000 dollars as a result of five additional charges that were filed on that day.
List of the additional charges filed against Grant as of 02.09.10 are as follows (click here to view the court document):
COUNT THIRTEEN: Sexual Assault in the Second Degree (on or about 05-06/2009 - 01/2010). Violation 53a-71(a)(4).
COUNT FOURTEEN: Sexual Assault in the Second Degree (on or about 05-06/2009 - 01/2010). Violation 53a-71(a)(4).
COUNT FIFTEEN: Sexual Assault in the Second Degree (on or about 05-06/2009 - 01/2010). Violation 53a-71(a)(4).
COUNT SIXTEEN: Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree (on or about 05-06/2009 - 01/2010). Violation 53a-73(a)(1)(E).
COUNT SEVENTEEN: Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree (on or about 05-06/2009 - 01/2010). Violation 53a-73(a)(1)(E).
In total, as of Tuesday, Grant is charged with six counts of second-degree sexual assault, four counts of risk of injury to a minor, three counts of serving alcohol to a minor, two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, and two counts of illegal sexual contact.
Since he did not have an attorney at the hearing, Judge Pavia provided Grant an opportunity to apply for a public defender. When his case was recalled later in the afternoon, Grant was notified that he didn't meet the qualifications to be appointed a public defender (click here to view the court document), and that the judge will hear the argument regarding an increase in his bond on Thursday morning.
NOTE: Due to the number people in the courtroom, the fact that I was seated in the last row, and the poor sound quality in the chambers, it was rather hard to hear the proceedings. The following is a summary of what occurred in court today based off my notes and interviews with the Assistant State's Attorney and defense attorney.
Thursday morning, accompanied defense attorney Jim Diamond, Grant arrived to court to hear oral arguments regarding his increase bond request by the prosecution.
According to Assistant State's Attorney Hodge, the rationale behind her increase in bond request were three fold.
The first stems from the fact that there are new charges filed against Grant (on Tuesday, Grant received five additional charges bringing the total charges to seventeen).
The second involves the safety of the community. During the proceedings Attorney Hodge stated that after he posted bail at the police station, Grant allegedly continued to have contact with the victims in the case.
The third involves a concern over flight risk or the opinion of the prosecution that there is possibility that Grant might flee.
Stating that the purpose of bonds is not to punish or incarcerate, in his remarks, defense attorney Diamond rebutted the prosecution's concerns.
In terms of flight risk, Diamond noted to the judge that Grant has made every court appearance. In terms of contact with victims, Diamond stated that at the time of his release, there was no court order at the time of his arrest stating that he could not have any contact with any minors. Finally, Diamond noted that Grant has long ties to the Danbury community and served in the military (eight years in the Air Force and four years in the Army).
After a brief rebuttal from the prosecution, Judge Pavia ordered that Grant's bond be increased by 50,000 as opposed to 150,000 dollars. The court also placed restrictions on Grant which include that he has no contact with the victims in this case in any manner (which includes phone calls, emails, text messages, or contact through third parties) nor should he has any contact with anyone under the age of 18.
After the hearing, I had a moment to talk to defense attorney Diamond who stated that Grant will fight these charges.
"Mr Grant has deep ties to Danbury. He has come to court and he is going to fight these charges. He has a record of service to this nation and his community and we look forward to refute each and every allegation."
The next court hearing is scheduled for March 3rd.
RELATED POSTS:
LIVE BLOG: Joe DaSilva and Troy Grant court case: Day one
FLASHBACK: Interview with Pathway Academy Executive Director Troy Grant
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