A 32-year-old Essex County man facing aggravated malicious wounding and felony abduction charges was denied bond during a November 19 appearance in Essex County Circuit Court.
The charges against Montell Deon Sayles, of Center Cross, originate from an August 2022 incident. Sayles was accused of later bribing the victim in order for her to renounce her statements about the incident.
During her arguments against bond before Judge John S. Martin, Essex Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Heather Baber described Sayles as “an absolute danger to the victim.”
Baber told the court that the prosecution has listened to a recorded phone call between Sayles and his present “significant other” in which he told her to tell the victim “to say what she’s supposed to say” in return for money.
She said the victim ultimately contacted the commonwealth’s attorney’s office and indicated “she had no idea who’d done it,” Baber told the court.
The assistant prosecutor described the victim’s injuries as “not minor injuries.”
She submitted photographs taken of the victim while she was at a hospital emergency room. Baber said there was “extreme damage” to the victim’s face, deep tissue wounds about her body, and puncture wounds.
Baber alleged that Sayles used a pipe and a screw driver during the attack.
“The commonwealth has great concern about witness tampering in this case,” Baber told Martin.
Meanwhile, defense attorney William Viverette told the court that Sayles turned himself into law enforcement after learing about the outstanding warrants against him. According to court records, Sayles was arrested on the charges on October 27.
“The alleged victim has also recanted (statements) that Mr. Sayles was involved,” Viverette said.
In making his ruling, Martin touched on Sayles’s criminal record which includes two felonies (a drug offense and perjury) and two misdemeanors (assault and battery and resisting arrest). The judge also expressed concern about the alleged bribery involved in the case.
In ruling against the bond request, Martin remanded the charges to the district court.
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