Hunter
07/14/20
An Iowa City man accused of sexually abusing two children went to court last week to get his bail reduced, but instead had it increased by over seven times.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports 28-year-old Jorge Maldonado is charged with four counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse, involving a 12-year-old and a younger child between June 1st and December 31st of last year. The criminal complaint alleges that Maldonado threatened in one incident to kill them, burn them with cigarettes, burn down their house and kill their family.
His bail was set for $35,000 at his initial hearing, before more severe charges were filed. He also has a $41,000 bail for a separate case of domestic abuse assault third or subsequent, and child endangerment.
His lawyer asked the sex abuse bail be reduced to $25,000 and to $10,000 cash or surety for the domestic case.
Assistant Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmerman Smith instead asked the court to leave the domestic bail as is and to increase the sexual abuse bail to $250,000. She said Maldonado has a lengthy criminal record and has previously failed to appear in court three separate times.
6th Judicial Judge Chad Kepros agreed with Zimmerman-Smith on the sexual abuse case and raised the bail to $250,000 cash or surety, but lowered the bail on the domestic incident.
Trial on the sexual abuse charges is set to begin on September 22nd.