MORGANTOWN — Bond was reduced Monday for a man accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a Westover motel parking lot.
Judge Debra Scudiere agreed to reduce 50-year-old Kurtis Byrd’s bond to $50,000, a number the state said it found acceptable, but more than the $20,000 bond requested by Ryan Shreve, Byrd’s attorney.
“Mr. Byrd nor his family could never dream to post $10,000 for $100,000 bond. It may as well be $1 million,” Shreve said. “We understand these are serious allegations, but Mr. Byrd is committed to defending himself.”
Byrd is charged with second-degree sexual assault and has been in North Central Regional Jail since April 22.
Monongalia County Prosecutor Perri DeChristopher told Scudiere since Byrd lives in Youngstown, Ohio, it wouldn’t be practical to place him on electronic monitoring or have him report to the day report center as terms of his bond. Scudiere did order Byrd to avoid contact with the alleged victim and witnesses in the case, should he make bond. Byrd must also sign a waiver of extradition before he can return to Ohio.
According to The Dominion Post archives:
Westover police responded to the Econo Lodge on Commerce Drive on April 21.
The alleged victim’s mother said her daughter was at a McDonald’s drive through when Byrd got into her car. He then made her drive to the Econo Lodge and sexually assaulted the girl. After the victim got home, she told her mom what happened and 911 was called.
Byrd was detained without incident early the next morning when he returned to the motel.
Scudiere also issued a warrant for the arrest of Christine Dial, who did not appear for the hearing.
Twitter @WillDean_DP
