Sex-crime suspect free on high bond

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Prosecutors said they were surprised a man accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl was able to come up with the bond money to get out of jail for a second time.

Gerald Laneaux, 26, was already out on bond after accusations of a sexual assault in September 2009 when an identical charge from another incident surfaced earlier this month.

After the second allegation, prosecutors asked the initial bond of $25,000 be raised to $100,000. A bond of $100,000 was also set for the most recent allegation, meaning Laneaux secured the $200,000 in bond money needed for his release.

“I would think the judges and DA’s office did not think there was any way this defendant would be out of jail,” said visiting judge Jon Wisser.

The former district judge said that in 35 years, he has only seen a handful of defendants pay a bond set that high.

Laneaux was let go from his job as a teacher at the Goddard School in Pflugerville after the first allegation was made by a student.

Bonds set so high are normally reserved for murder charges in Travis County and normally are enough to keep a defendant in jail. In the motion filed to raise the initial bond, the prosecutor said Laneaux is a “dangerous person to the community.”

“I understand how this would be upsetting to the community,” said Wisser.

However, it is rare for bond to be denied or revoked for a person still awaiting trial since they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Wisser said it is possible prosecutors will seek another motion to increase the bond even further but would likely need more evidence to present before the judge.

“I am confident the district attorney’s office will do everything in its power to make sure the defendant is reincarcerated.”