Parents outraged over bail for accused repeat sex offender from Commack

Child welfare advocates are searching for answers after a convicted sex offender from Commack who is accused of molesting another child was released on only $2,000 bail. Police say level 3 sex offender

News 12 Staff

Feb 9, 2006, 3:51 AM

Updated 6,874 days ago

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Child welfare advocates are searching for answers after a convicted sex offender from Commack who is accused of molesting another child was released on only $2,000 bail.
Police say level 3 sex offender Jonathan Knight was arrested last week for molesting a 15-year-old employee at the retail store he managed. Knight, 49, was released one day later for $2,000, even though the District Attorney?s office asked for bail to be set at $20,000. Knight was convicted two decades ago of sexually abusing three boys.
Parents say they are outraged that a repeat offender could be let loose so easily. Professor Richard Klein of the Touro Law School says that while it is odd for a judge to set bail so drastically lower than asked by the DA, the judge's decision was probably based on the maximum amount of prison time Knight faces. Since the three counts against him are all misdemeanors, the most he could have to serve is three years.
Related Story: Level 3 sex offender from Commack facing more abuse charges