Syracuse, NY - The District Attorney's Office today tried to have bail revoked for former Syracuse police officer Fredrick Baunee because of his recent filing for bankruptcy. Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Ferrante told Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi he was concerned the bankruptcy filing suggested Baunee was planning to skip his Nov. 8 sentencing for sexual abuse and...
Former Syracuse police officer Fredrick Baunee was in custody when he made a court appearance in July. He has since been freed on bail. A judge this morning decided not to revoke his bail. Syracuse, NY - The District Attorney's Office today tried to have bail revoked for former Syracuse police officer Fredrick Baunee because of his recent filing for bankruptcy.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Ferrante told Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi he was concerned the bankruptcy filing suggested Baunee was planning to skip his Nov. 8 sentencing for sexual abuse and conspiracy.
Baunee told the judge he had no intention of skipping that sentencing appearance.
The judge warned Baunee he could face 15 years in state prison instead of the promised seven years if he did. Aloi then rejected Ferrante's request to revoke the bail now, adding he would reconsider the issue if the prosecutor files more documentation.
Baunee, 49, of Camillus, is free on $100,000 bail bond after pleading guilty to sexually abusing two teenage boys who were sleeping at his home and to running a drug-trafficking conspiracy from his home.
On Sept. 24, Baunee filed for bankruptcy, citing the $100,000 judgment for that bail bond as an unsecured debt.
After reading an article this week in The Post-Standard about Baunee's bankruptcy filing, Ferrante submitted a letter to Aloi - with the newspaper article as an exhibit - asking to have the judge take Baunee back into custody pending sentencing.
In court today, Ferrante said he also had heard from another former city police officer that Baunee was planning to skip sentencing. The prosecutor declined to identify the source in open court but offered to share the information privately with the judge.
Defense lawyer Paul Carey said he didn't think Ferrante's beliefs about Baunee's future plans were sufficient to revoke bail.
Aloi noted Baunee's home and the home of his sister and brother-in-law were used as collateral for the bail bond. Should Baunee skip sentencing, the insurance company that posted the bond could move to foreclose on those properties, the judge noted.
But Aloi conceded he wasn't sure what impact the bankruptcy filing would have on that.
Aloi also pointed out that the plea deal calls for Baunee to receive one seven-year penalty for his guilty pleas. He would face consecutive time - amounting to at least 15 1/3 years - if he doesn't show up as required for sentencing, the judge warned.
Aloi then asked Baunee directly if he planned to come back to court for sentencing.
"Yes, sir. Absolutely," Baunee said.