Man arraigned on human-trafficking and child-exploitation counts; bond review scheduled
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Summary
Steven Stewart was arraigned on multiple counts including human trafficking and child-exploitation material. Prosecutors said investigators recovered phones and SD cards; judge scheduled discovery, negotiation and a bond-reduction hearing on March 19.
Steven Stewart appeared before the Monroe Circuit Court on Jan. 5 to be arraigned on multiple felony counts, including alleged human trafficking and possession of child-exploitation material. The Commonwealth told the court it had recovered a phone and SD cards that laboratory forensics had returned to the prosecution.
Prosecution described evidence returned from forensic analysis and said images from an SD card appeared to depict the alleged victim alongside a selfie attributed to the defendant. Defense counsel asked for discovery and additional time to prepare; the defense also requested a bond reduction hearing. The judge declined to reduce bond immediately and scheduled a bond-reduction hearing and a separate hearing on March 19 so the defense can present sworn testimony and any exculpatory material it has gathered.
The Commonwealth said it would provide certain records in discovery; defense counsel indicated it would call witnesses, including the alleged victim’s mother, at the March 19 hearing to support a bond reduction motion. The judge stressed that bond-reduction determinations require sworn testimony.
What happens next: negotiation day was set for March 6 and a bond-reduction hearing for March 19. Prosecutors indicated they would continue to produce discovery materials in the interim.