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Bail Reduced For Man Facing Child Assault Charges

WARREN, Pa. — A Warren County man accused of physically assaulting a 2-month-old child remains in jail after court action on Wednesday.

Jarred D. Blauser, 19, of Warren, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault of a child and two counts of endangering the welfare of children. Blauser was initially taken to Warren County Jail after failing to post $100,000 bail.

Bail was reduced to $50,000 on Wednesday and conditions were added in the event of Blauser’s release, according to Magisterial District Judge Todd Woodin.

He said several factors played into the decision to reduce bail.

“He remains in jail,” Woodin said. “Bail has been reduced with significant conditions.”

According to Warren County District Attorney Rob Greene, Assistant District Attorney Cody Brown objected to the reduction of bail.

According to the American Bar Association, “Bail is the amount of money defendants must post to be released from custody until their trial. Bail is not a fine. It is not supposed to be used as punishment. The purpose of bail is simply to ensure that defendants will appear for trial and all pretrial hearings for which they must be present.”

“The judge or magistrate decides the amount of bail by weighing many factors: the risk of the defendant fleeing, the type of crime alleged, the ‘dangerousness’ of defendants, and the safety of the community,” according to the ABA.

Blauser does not have a prior criminal history. The children are not in his custody, nor that of their mother, Jade I. Lord, 20, of Warren — who is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of children for allegedly leaving the children in Blauser’s care. Blauser has ties to the community and has retained private counsel — attorney Henry Borger of Warren.

If Blauser were to post bail, he would be released under the following conditions:

¯ “The defendant shall be required to vacate the premises shared with the victim(s);

¯ “The defendant shall refrain from committing any criminal conduct or abuse of any sort against the victim(s);

¯ “Defendant is to have no contact with victim(s) or witness(es) by any means of communication; and

¯ “Defendant must report for electronic GPS monitoring upon release. Defendant is also subject to bail supervision with Warren County Adult Probation. Defendant is responsible for payment of the same.”

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Blauser was supervising a 2-month-old for about 45 minutes on Tuesday, June 8, during which time he allegedly struck the child. The child’s mother discovered bruises on the child and confronted Blauser, according to the affidavit.

She told police Blauser had admitted “he slapped the child.”

The child was taken to Warren General Hospital. Emergency room staff reported multiple injuries and the child was transported to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for further testing, according to the affidavit.

The mother alleged that Blauser had also “about two weeks ago … struck her 3-year-old daughter and gave her a black eye,” according to the affidavit.

Police interviewed Blauser. “He admitted he had “flicked” the child once in the face … and … admitted that he struck the 2-month-old child twice in the body with a closed fist and at least twice across the face with the back of his hand,” City of Warren Police said in the affidavit.

Asked about the 3-year-old, Blauser “then admitted that he struck the child causing the black eye injury.”

Blauser was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday but waived that hearing. The case will move forward in the Court of Common Pleas.

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