If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.
Although former Boalsburg community leader Christopher Lee has been denied bail multiple times while awaiting trial on child sex crimes allegations, he is once again asking the United States District Court of Pennsylvania for a chance to get out from behind bars.
Lee was arrested by federal agents last October on charges that he possessed and produced child pornography and transported foreign minors in the country to coerce them into sexual activity. Prior to his arrest, Lee was a Harris Township Supervisor and the CEO of the Boal Mansion Museum.
Although he was originally supposed to appear in court that December, his trial has been pushed back several times as prosecutors have added additional charges that have required additional pre-trial maneuvering from his defense.
“The delay…has frustrated Defendant’s speedy trial rights as his pretrial detention has extended past one year,” Lee’s attorney Kyle Rude writes in a new bail request filed Tuesday. “Defendant’s health has continued to deteriorate during his detention in prison.”
Lee has previously raised concerns about his health without success, with the judge declaring that Lee’s “allegedly deteriorating health may be unfortunate and regrettable,” but does nothing to guarantee his presence at trial. Lee was previously deemed a flight risk due to international connections.
However, Rude also wants to make several compromises with the court to ensure Lee’s presence at his trial. Lee would voluntarily surrender his passport, be subjected to electronic monitoring and restrict all his travel to the states around Pennsylvania within the jurisdiction of the United States District Court, his attorney says.
“Defendant respectfully submits that he is not a flight risk nor a danger to the community that has benefitted from his hard work and charitable contributions,” Rude writes.
