PARIS – Since being arrested and charged with rape of a toddler in September in Rumford, Steven Morton’s home has been jail in either Oxford or York counties.
The 20-year-old Rumford man’s lawyer, Ron Hoffman, said Friday that jail is the safest place for his client right now.
“There have been threats made to him and his family,” Hoffman said.
And, he added, due to undisclosed security issues at Oxford County Jail in Paris, Morton was transferred last month to York County Jail in Alfred in a prisoner swap.
“It was done for his own safety,” Hoffman said.
That also meant Oxford County no longer had to foot the bill for Morton’s extended jail stay.
Morton was arrested Sept. 27 by Rumford Detective Sgt. George Cayer and charged with gross sexual assault in connection with an incident reported to have happened earlier that morning.
Hoffman said Morton is accused of raping a 2-year-old girl.
Gross sexual assault, a Class A felony, carries a prison sentence of up to 40 years pending conviction.
Morton failed to post $10,000 cash bail and was taken to the Paris jail.
He was to be arraigned on Nov. 8 in Rumford District Court, but on Oct. 12 an Oxford County grand jury indicted him on charges of gross sexual assault and Class B felony assault.
That bumped the case to Oxford County Superior Court in Paris, where he was subsequently arraigned and returned to jail, unable to pay the same bail amount.
On Wednesday, Hoffman requested what’s called a Harnish hearing, a rarely used type of bail hearing in Oxford County.
Court Clerk Donna Howe and Hoffman said Friday it’s a rarity because it is requested only in cases involving very serious capital crimes such as killings.
But “because of the nature of (this crime), the state considers it very, very serious,” Hoffman said.
In such a hearing, both the defense and prosecuting attorneys present evidence. A judge then decides whether the accused should be released on bail or denied bail.
“Both sides agreed that (Morton) should be held without bail. The district attorney was ready to present evidence on the Harnish hearing, but (Hoffman) decided to withdraw his request,” Howe said.
Hoffman said he did that after receiving new evidence last week.
“Until I’ve had a chance to look at the new information, I reserved the right to the bail hearing,” he said.
In the meantime, Hoffman said he intends to file a motion requesting review of the evidence by an independent forensic specialist.
As for Morton, “he’s in good spirits. He’s doing OK and feels it’s in his best interest” to remain in jail, he added.
Comments are no longer available on this story