Gerard Robert Wilson, a teacher at Oxford middle and high schools, was released last week from Oakland County Jail after posting a $20,000 bond set by Circuit Court Judge Rae Lee Chabot.
Accused of sexually touching his 14-year-old adopted daughter, the 48-year-old Commerce Township man had been lodged in the county jail since his arraignment May 8.
Judge Brian MacKenzie, of Novi’s 52-1 District Court, had previously set Wilson’s bond at $4 million with no 10 percent provision.
‘I thought it was outrageous,? said defense attorney Larry Kaluzny. ‘If there’s a presumption of innocence, he should be given some ability to post bond … I don’t think it’s the kind of case that somebody should be sitting in jail without the ability to defend himself.?
In Oakland County Circuit Court June 6, Kaluzny convinced Judge Chabot to reduce the bond to $200,000 with a 10 percent provision.
‘To have a $4 million bond with the nature of this case, I just felt was an abuse of Judge MacKenzie’s discretion,? Kaluzny said. ‘He’s not a danger to society. Not from what I saw.?
The attorney noted his client has ‘no (criminal) record? and ‘ties to the community.?
While out on bond, Wilson will not be required to wear a tether despite a request for it from the prosecutor.
Although she admitted $4 million ‘certainly is a high bond for that charge,? Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Elisa Ramunno, said, ‘I think the bond was reasonable as set at that time.?
‘Judge MacKenzie certainly considered all the factors surrounding the case at that time,? she said.
Wilson’s adopted daughter made headlines when she ran away from home and was found at the Highlander Motel in Waterford Township with a 27-year-old Texas man she met over the internet and allegedly had sex with.
After she was located, the girl disclosed to authorities that Wilson had allegedly touched her chest, buttocks and thighs.
Wilson’s charged with four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony that carries up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
‘The people feel strongly that it was not innocent touches by a loving father ? that they were criminal in nature,? Ramunno said.
As a result of the charges against him, Wilson was placed on administrative leave by the school district.
Assistant Superintendent Nancy Kammer said Wilson was ‘very cooperative? about it.
Employed with Oxford Schools since November 1999, Wilson taught science tech classes at OMS and a video/media class at OHS.
According to Ramunno, Wilson confessed to detectives that he touched his adopted daughter. ‘He admitted to a series of incidents where he was touching various parts of her body and looking at them as a whole,? she said.
But Kaluzny said Wilson repeatedly told detectives the touches had no sexual intent.
‘If you saw the tape of the 3? hours that he was questioned, over and over and over again, he kept saying, ‘I never did anything for sexual purposes,?? the defense attorney said. ‘It’s not the kind of thing that you would say, ‘Oh, my God, this is an out and out confession and he molested this girl.? It’s nothing like that.?
‘Hitting her rear-end and calling her bubble-butt? is not a sexual touch, explained Kaluzny.
Ramunno said Wilson chose his words carefully during his interview with detectives.
‘He initially denied (sexual intent), but then he later began to qualify his answers by saying, ‘I don’t think so? or ‘I don’t believe it was done for that purpose,?? the prosecutor said.
‘He’s not saying that things didn’t happen, but they were never done for a sexual purpose,? Kaluzny explained. ‘It’s possible she’s telling the truth on all this, but misinterpreting what had happened.?
‘Any touching was never done for any sexual purpose and if she interpreted it as inappropriate, he never had any clue that she felt that way till these allegations came out,? according to the defense attorney.
Kaluzny noted all the alleged incidents ‘happened with clothes on, never anything under clothing.?
One of the touching incidents involved Wilson allegedly pressing himself against his daughter from behind while he was physically aroused. ‘I don’t really see what other purpose that is for,? Ramunno said.
Kaluzny explained that Wilson was watching television and ‘may have been partially aroused.?
‘He grabbed her and hugged her from behind, nothing to do with what he saw on TV,? said the defense attorney, noting it’s ‘possible? she felt certain things press against her as anyone could in a close embrace.
The prosecutor indicated the alleged sexual touching took place ‘over a period of about a year.?
‘We have charged four (counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct),? but ‘it appears that there’s probably more that occurred,? Ramunno said.
Wilson was charged for specific incidents the victim had disclosed to authorities and he ‘had admitted to,? she explained.
‘The people feel very strongly that this was a pattern of behavior and not meant for an innocent purpose,? Ramunno said. ‘We feel strongly that an objective person looking at these facts is not going to find they’re innocent touchings.?
‘I just want him to be able to have his day in court and let a jury decide,? Kaluzny noted. Wilson is due back in circuit court for a June 26 pretrial hearing.