Moro gets five restrictions; bond set at $150,000

By Gus Bode

A Jackson County Judge set Bond at $150,000 in a hearing Tuesday for John D. Moro, 34, accused of kidnapping his eight-year-old daughter at gun-point from Giant City School.

The hearing was set after Moro’s first $100,000 bond was revoked because of evidence that suggested he might not return to Illinois.

Moro’s hearing was at 9 a.m. in the Jackson County Jail with Judge David Watt presiding. Moro said in an interview late Monday night that he expected his bail to be set higher than that of an average murderer.

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Watt set five restrictions on Moro’s bond during the court proceedings. Moro has to surrender to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department all documents printed with his alias, Jeffrey R. Lock, and all passports in his real name, and Moro will have no contact with his ex-wife Kelly E. Kurtz his daughter Demetria or with Giant City School.

Additionally, Moro was ordered to report to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department on Monday and Friday between 8 a.m. and 12 a.m., and Moro is to stop all interviews with the press from his jail cell.

States Attorney Michael Wepsiec called Lt. Mike Teas to testify as soon as the hearing began and asked him to describe the incidents that happened at Giant City school. Teas stated that there were sixteen children and one teacher present.

Wepsiec asked Teas what the authorities in Ellensburg, Washington found when they received a warrant to search Moro’s property. Teas stated that in Moro’s car a 44 Magnum Smith and Wesson was found, and on the day of the arrest a semi automatic pistol was found in Moro’s car.

Teas also stated that Moro had no ties to Southern Illinois except his daughter that he knew off. Patricia Gross, Moro’s defense attorney stated while questioning Teas that Moro’s father lives in Christopher and that Moro has lived here in Southern Illinois all his life.

Wepsiec recommended at the hearing Tuesday that Moro’s bond be set at $500,000 because Moro was arrested in Ellensburg, Washington, which is 1,800 miles away from Southern Illinois, and because Moro used false identities in the past.

Moro’s next court date is set for Oct. 17 at 9 a.m., a states attorney official said.

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