THE Superior Court has granted the request of Christian Harys Santos Manuel, also known as Christy, to be released to a third-party custodian, the manager of the beauty salon that employs the defendant as a beautician.
Manuel has been accused of sexually abusing an 8-year-old boy
In a bail modification order issued on Tuesday, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho placed Manuel under house arrest and released him after posting a $100,000 unsecured bond.
The defendant will also be allowed to work provided that he is under constant supervision by his third-party custodian.
Manuel, who is represented by Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, was also instructed not to be near any children.
The third-party custodian told the court that Manuel will reside at the back of the establishment where she also lives.
She said she would immediately call the police if Manuel did not follow the release conditions imposed on him.
Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds, for his part, asked the court to maintain the bail and deny the request for modification, noting the seriousness of the allegations against the defendant.
After hearing from the parties, Judge Camacho granted the request to modify bail.
Manuel, 36, was charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, and disturbing the peace.
Sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree is punishable by up to 30 years imprisonment, while a disturbing the peace charge carries a penalty of up to six months imprisonment.
The Division of Youth Services made the initial complaint to the Department of Public Safety on April 25, 2022 after the child’s legal guardian reported the allegation.
In an interview with the victim at DYS on May 2, it was learned that the child’s mother used to bring the child to Manuel at a salon that employed him so he could watch the minor while she went to work.
Court documents stated that the victim’s mother is currently in prison at the Department of Corrections and the child is in the care of a legal guardian.
An official legal guardian told authorities that she became the guardian of the boy back in August 25, 2021, after the boy’s mother was incarcerated.
The guardian told investigators that she instructed her son to install a parental app on the minor’s tablet.
The son later discovered pornography videos downloaded on the minor’s tablet and informed her mother about them.
When the guardian asked the minor about the videos, the boy said
Christy downloaded them and would make him watch the videos.
The minor also told the guardian what Manuel made the boy do to the defendant on many occasions.
