(WJET/WFXP)– An Erie man accused of raping a minor had his bond tripled at his preliminary hearing after court records state he presented misleading information at his arraignment. The magisterial district judge has recused herself from the case.
According to online court records, 45-year-old Dustin Thornton was charged with raping and sexually assaulting a minor on June 23, with the preliminary hearing taking place on June 30.
However, a new issue arose at that hearing beyond Thornton’s alleged criminal actions: according to a motion filed by his attorney, he claimed to the court that he had hired a lawyer at his preliminary arraignment, then didn’t show up with one, resulting in District Justice Lauri Mikielski raising his bond from $50,000 to $150,000…