Accused Sex Offender's House Arrest Partially Lifted
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- An accused sex offender, who once lived with an elected public official in Palmetto Bay, had his house arrest partially lifted Thursday and the judge's decision did not sit well with some residents.
Stanley Kowlessar Jr. is accused of breaking into a Palmetto Bay home in February 2014 and molesting a 9-year-old girl in her home in the middle of the night. She was his neighbor.
CBS4 News exclusively reported on Kowlessar's case when he was granted bond, released on house arrest and moved into the mansion of Palmetto Bay Vice Mayor John Dubois. Kowlesser lived in the bay front mansion on a sprawling compound for more than two months. Kowlessar's dad, Stanley Senior, is a friend and political supporter of the vice mayor.
At the time, Kowlessar was ordered to wear a GPS ankle monitor and was only allowed to travel to and from work, school and therapy plus take regular urine tests. His attorney argued Thursday that Kowlessar has been unable to obtain and maintain employment, due to the highly restrictive nature of his house arrest, noting that some jobs require considerable overtime, and travel from the work site, something Kowlessar's house arrest prevented.
That changed slightly in court Thursday when Judge Christina Miranda noted he has stayed out of trouble since being granted bond and has done well in therapy. She ordered Kowlessar to continue his therapy and go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings twice a week. But he will be free to go where he likes from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. while continuing to wear a GPS ankle monitor.
Palmetto Bay residents showed up at court to protest his release from house arrest and noted that other alleged victims have come forward since his 2015 arrest.
"How many more people is he going to assault? How many more children are going to be victims of this monster?" asked Palmetto Bay parent Chloe Hyden.
The father of the 9-year-old alleged victim is still angry that Vice Mayor Dubois had given shelter to his child's accused molester.
"We don't think our elected officials should take sides in this case. We were very offended that that's taken place and we want the judge to know how we feel and how our community feels."
'It concerns us. We are very disappointed with that decision," said Palmetto Bay parent Erica Watts. "Our children are our primary concern."
At one point in Thursday's hearing, the crowd of Palmetto Bay residents released a loud groan when Kowlessar's attorney, Robert Amsel, said his behavior was the result of post-traumatic stress syndrome and alcohol abuse. A perturbed Judge Miranda scolded the observers, saying she would not tolerate "outbursts" from the "peanut gallery."
As for Dubois, he was not in court Thursday.
Dubois always supported Kowlessar and insisted on his innocence but after CBS4's coverage of the vice mayor's allegedly felonious house guest, Kowlessar moved into another home in Palmetto Bay.
Kowlessar is scheduled to stand trial for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12 and for burglary with a battery in July. Both offenses carry potential sentences of life in prison if Kowlessar is convicted.