A Letcher Circuit Judge lowered the bond for a former magistrate candidate in a sex abuse and child pornography case.
Last week in Letcher Circuit Court, Emory Lee “Fudge” Mullins appeared in a hearing where his attorney requested his $100,000 cash bond be reduced. Today, Letcher Circuit Judge Jimmy Craft granted a bond reduction for Mullins, who is facing charges of sex abuse and possession of child pornography.
In an order issued Tuesday afternoon, Judge Craft reduced Mullins’ bond by half, from $100,000 cash to $50,000 cash or property. According to the Letcher County Jail, Mullins made bond Tuesday afternoon and was released from custody.
Mullins is facing a charge of first-degree sexual abuse, eight counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of retaliating against a witness. The charges stem from an investigation that began in February.
At the time of his indictment and arrest, Mullins stood as the Democratic nominee for magistrate in Letcher County’s 3rd magisterial district. He has since withdrawn from the race.
In Mullins’ bond hearing last week, his attorney, Daniel Dotson argued that Mullins is not a flight risk and has no prior criminal history. The prosecution argued that Mullins violated court orders to stay away from the alleged victims in sex abuse portion of the case.
In today’s order, Mullins was once again ordered to stay away from the family and was ordered on home incarceration with electronic monitoring if he makes his bond. He was also forbidden from possessing or having access to computers, smart phones, the internet, social media or chat rooms.
Mullins was also ordered to stay away from, and not have any communication with children under the age of 18. He remains lodged in the Letcher County Jail.
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