By Jake Palmateer
Staff Writer
SIDNEY _ A Unadilla man facing sexual assault and child-pornography charges was sent back to Delaware County jail Wednesday without bail to face grand-jury action.
Steven T. Hunt, 52, was arrested Sunday and charged with first-degree criminal sexual act, use of a child in a sexual performance and promoting an obscene sexual performance of a child.
The resident of the Sidney/Unadilla Mobile Home Community on state Route 7 is alleged to have photographed himself engaging in oral sex with a 7-year-old girl sometime in August or September at a home in the village of Sidney, according to court documents.
Sidney Village Justice Lamont Martin ruled there was enough evidence to show a felony may have been committed and allowed the case to move forward.
Martin also ruled Hunt, who is being represented by Marybeth Dumont, should be held in jail without bail. He was previously being held there on $100,000 bail.
Martin closed Hunt’s felony hearing to the public upon Hunt’s request.
Afterward, Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup emerged from the courtroom and said he will likely be presenting the case to a grand jury by the end of the year.
"The judge determined there was enough cause to believe he committed a felony," Northrup said. "He remanded him without bail."
Northrup said he has 45 days from the date of Hunt’s arrest to get a grand-jury indictment.
Dumont said it was her policy not to talk to the media.
The hearing attracted a resident of the mobile-home park who presented a petition signed by 12 park residents requesting Hunt not be allowed to return to his home at lot 18.
"If he is going to return to get his personal belongings, we would like to request a 24-hour prior notice," the petition states.
The resident, Jerry Grays, said he was disappointed the felony hearing was closed to the public.
"I feel, as a resident of that trailer park, we need to know what’s going on," Grays said. "There’s got to be close to 15 kids in that trailer park."
Grays said he did not know if Hunt may have been engaged in illegal activity before his arrest Sunday.
"The guy was a loner," Grays said. "You very rarely saw him outside the home."
Troopers said Hunt was disabled and did not work, although no physical disability was readily apparent at the felony hearing.
Troopers have not released information about the alleged victim, how Hunt knew her or how the information leading to his arrest was obtained.
They seized "thousands" of video tapes and digital media items, some of which they said contained pornography and child pornography.
Grays said he and other residents of the mobile-home park are concerned there may be other victims.
"I’d rather not comment on that at this point," Northrup said.
Anyone who believes his or her child may be a victim of sexual abuse should immediately contact troopers at Sidney, he said. The troopers’ number is 561-7100.
Hunt is not a registered sex offender.
