The state and the defense in the Athens County Common Pleas Court debated Tuesday whether a Glouster woman accused of human trafficking should have her bond altered.
Aileen Mays, 27, was arraigned on three indictments, including charges of trafficking in persons and compelling prostitution.
She was also charged with aggravated possession of drugs and one count of theft after allegedly shoplifting more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from Wal-Mart.
She pleaded not guilty to all of the charges at her arraignment Oct. 16.
Her attorney William Biddlestone, who was appointed to defend her Nov. 6 after her original public defender reported a conflict of interest, requested that Mays be released on her own recognizance with home monitoring because he believed a reduced bond would help the defense’s investigation.
However, Judge L. Alan Goldsberry granted a new, collective bond of $200,000.
Her original bond was set at $350,000, according to court documents.
If Mays posts bond, she will be released from Southeast Ohio Regional Jail and ordered to avoid contact with the victim, Biddlestone said.
Assistant County Prosecutor Robert Driscoll said the state believes that the bond should have remained the same because Mays “would be inappropriate to be released. ...The bond is appropriate as it stands (and should be kept to) ease the mind of the victim.”
The victim of human trafficking was 16 years old at the time of the incident in September. According to a news release from Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly’s office, the girl was initially in the care of Children Services after the incident.
Biddlestone said she is now living with her grandmother.
The minor was allegedly used as a prostitute for a 69-year-old Athens man, Fred Kittle Sr., in exchange for money and drugs for Mays.
Although Kittle, a registered sex offender in Athens County, was was arrested Sept. 27 at his Rocky Point Road home for one count of compelling prostitution and one count of importuning, his case was dismissed in the Athens County Municipal Court following his bond posting Sept. 28, according to a previous Post article.
"Kittle’s case will remain in the investigation status at the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office at this time,” Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said in an October news release from his office.
Blackburn confirmed in an email that Kittle’s case is still under investigation.
Mays is required to appear in court for a final pretrial Mar. 17 and a jury trial April 7.
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This article originally appeared in print under the headline "Mays receives lowered bond at pretrial."
