Sex-offender suspect denied bail reduction

Judge cites safety of community in denial

Matt Baide | Jun 29, 20230

Former Shelton High School counselor Samuel Martin Caffey, 30, was denied a reduction in bail at a hearing June 21 in Mason County Superior Court.

Caffey was arrested June 2 on charges of third-degree rape of a child, third-degree child molestation and distribution of a controlled substance to a minor.

Judge Daniel Goodell presided over the hearing. Caffey’s lawyer, Joshua Bruner, argued to the court that Caffey’s family could not afford the $300,000 bail, but could afford $100,000 bail to get Caffey out of jail prior to his upcoming court dates.

“The family would be able to pay $100,000 and I believe that that amount would reasonably assure the court my client would be on his best behavior, should the court agree to do so,” Bruner said during the hearing.

Bruner pointed out Caffey’s family attended the hearing to support him.

“Mr. Caffey does have a very strong social support system,” Bruner said.

Mason County Prosecutor Michael Dorcy argued against the reduced bail amount, citing the probable cause affidavit in which Caffey said if he was ever caught, he would commit suicide. Dorcy also cited more potential victims have been coming forward as an argument against bail reduction.

“It is the state’s request that the court leave the bail as it has currently been considered and set by the court,” Dorcy said during the hearing.

The alleged victim’s father spoke at the hearing against the reduced bail. The Journal generally does not publish identifying details of minor victims. The father said he had deep concerns about the potential release of Caffey.

“My daughter has been in a psychiatric facility for going on 77 days now and she’s still got a long way to go,” the father said during the hearing. “For her mental health and well-being and for the safety of all of our family, I respectfully request that the court deny a reduction in Mr. Caffey’s bail.”

Judge Goodell spoke about the probable cause affidavit and law enforcement’s concerns about the potential release of Caffey.

“The court has great concerns with regard to the safety to the community. With the probable cause statement and that’s all the court really has to go off of, the position of Mr. Caffey as it relates to a host of minors in the community,” Goodell said during the hearing. “Secondly, the alleged conduct of Mr. Caffey as it relates to him expressing the concern of getting caught and what would happen and that would be a suicide threat, according to the probable cause statement, actually, was related to pills or something, according to the probable cause statement, that he was alleged threatening to take. So the court is concerned across the board on the probable cause statement with regard to safety to the community and the protection order that was entered into this previously at the time of the court determining the appropriate bail is related only to the alleged victim in this matter, recognizing that there are safety issues with others, so that protection order would not protect others. So the court has concerns across the board.”

Goodell addressed Bruner’s point of setting bail in excess of a person’s ability to pay, and said it is not an accurate reflection of what the court is able to do. He said the court sets high bail in many cases because of the concern of the threat to the community.

“This is one of those type of cases. The court has not seen any change of circumstances, the court is quite concerned about the safety of the community, and the court is not going to modify the conditions of release at this time,” Goodell said.

Caffey’s next court appearance is scheduled July 3.