Tydel John, 57, who was charged with new sex offenses last week while under house arrest and awaiting trial for sexual offenses against minors, was advised of his rights Monday before V.I. Superior Court Magistrate Judge Jessica Gallivan and held on $150,000 bail.
"The people are asking for $150,000 bail based on the fact he has two prior charges and was on release pending trial for rape when these new charges were filed," said Assistant Attorney General Tonya Saafir.
Gallivan concurred and set the bail.
"We want to file a motion for reconsideration," said John’s attorney, Marshal Webster.
"You are free to file a motion," Gallivan said. "However bail is set at $150,000."
John was arrested around 11:20 a.m. Friday on St. Croix in relation to allegations he inappropriately touched a 10-year-old girl in August.
In this new case, John is charged with child abuse and a new count of unlawful sexual contact with a minor. He faces up to 15 years for the unlawful sexual contact, and up to 20 years for the child-abuse charge, Gallivan said. He also faces substantial jail time on the prior charges.
John — a former teacher — was previously released on a $1.5 million unsecured bond and placed on house arrest for a similar set of charges filed two years ago, which included three counts of aggravated rape, eight counts of unlawful sexual contact, seven counts of child abuse and two counts of child neglect for alleged encounters with nine girls between the ages of 8 and 13.
He was arrested again in April 2008 on additional charges, and so far has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of sexual assault, not including the two new charges, for which he has not yet been arraigned.
In February 2009, a St. Croix judge modified John’s bail conditions and allowed him to work as a driving-school instructor during the day. That case is still pending.
