SWEDEN, N.Y. – A change to bail reform allowed a judge in the Sweden Town Court to set bail for crimes that don’t normally qualify, in a case involving a serial shoplifter who sparked a manhunt in late July after the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says the man stole from stores near Brockport.
When Chris Cole, a Marine Corp veteran with a rap sheet of stealing 16 times, was arraigned after the manhunt arrest he was released. But when he returned to the Town of Sweden Court Wednesday, Judge Robert Connors used a change to bail reform called “harm in harm” to get bail against him. (The change is also listed as “harm and harm” and “harm on harm.”)
Cole is charged with five larcenies and also has pending robbery and larceny charges from March. Despite non-qualifying offenses, Judge Connors set bail at $500.
“I am at that point where I’ve declared he is harm on harm,” Judge Connors said. “The allegations, the people have met their burden.”…