MOUNT VERNON – Knox County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Jay Nixon set bond at $25,000 on Wednesday for Dustin Theophilus, 38, of Columbus, in connection with seven counts of interference with custody in the case of a missing Knox County teenager.
The defense waived a formal arraignment and will submit a written plea to the common pleas court of the juvenile division. Theophilus will appear for pre-trial at 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 19. At the time of publication he remained in custody.
Other potential charges, including felonies, are under investigation, prosecutor Christine Williams said during the bond hearing.
Jackson County police said they found the teenager, Alyssa Wood, 14, of Mount Vernon, in Jackson County on Dec. 14. Wood was taken into protective custody, according to a press release from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Police arrested Theophilus the same day.
Defense attorney Grant Carpenter said he was aware of the pressure surrounding the case, particularly from social media posts, but asked Nixon to keep an open mind.
Nixon set bond at $25,000, which is half the amount prosecutors requested. While Nixon agreed with Carpenter that $50,000 would be high for the current charges, he took into account the seriousness of potential future felony charges in making his bond decision.
Earlier Wednesday, city prosecutor Robert Broeren dismissed the charges in municipal court against Theophilus because the same charges had been filed in Knox County Juvenile Court. Broeren, citing discussions with Knox County prosecuting attorney Chip McConville, determined it best for the case to be handled by one office.
Theophilus appeared virtually from the Knox County Jail at both of Wednesday’s proceedings. Theophilus is known to Woods’ family, according to the sheriff’s office press release.
