44°
A judge ordered William Slaughter, 23, held in the Bergen County Jail until she decides what to do, after authorities described a troubling mental history.
Slaughter lured a 6-year old boy from a recreation program to his apartment last year after sexually assaulting the boy’s 13-year old sister, a grand jury indictment alleges. He also visited two borough schools, violating an order that he not have contact with children, another says.
Defense attorney Frank Lucianna told Superior Court Judge Frances A. McGrogan in Hackensack on Monday that Slaughter received a bogus phone call from Africa over the weekend telling him that he'd won a lottery.
He walked to a Grand Avenue gas station and "immediately wired them $95," he said.
Up to that point, Slaughter was “fully compliant” with all bail restrictions, Lucianna said.
Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Kristin DeMarco said records show that Slaughter was treated in a clinic from 2012-2014, and was found to suffer from schizophrenia, paranoia, psychosis, and bipolar disorder.
“There are indications in the medical evaluations he has hallucinations,” she said. “He has delusions that he’s God and controls people’s thoughts and actions. He hears voices, and has fantasies of wanting children murdered.”
She said he also has “suicidal ideations” and that some of the symptoms began manifesting themselves in pre-school years.
DeMarco asked the judge to revoke bail and commit Slaughter to a state facility for evaluation."[He] is a danger to himself and others,” she said.
The judge then questioned Bergen County Sheriff's Cpl. Daniel Marro, who's in charge of bracelet monitoring.
Marro said Slaughter told his staff that he “had gone out for cigarettes.”
Slaughter violated his agreement several times, failed to pay for monitoring and frequently had to be told to charge his bracelet, he added.
“The battery life is 40 hours,” Marro said. “If the bracelet isn’t charged, he could be anywhere.”
Expressing concern, McGrogan ordered both sides back to court Oct. 29, when she'll decide what to do about Slaughter's $400,000 bail. He must remain held until then, she said..
Click here to follow Daily Voice Fort Lee and receive free news updates.
