Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Anderson Guest House owner released on bond

Anderson Guest House owner Robert Dupont was released from jail on $25,000 bond following a 27-minute detention hearing in U. S. District Court in Springfield. Dupont is charged with Medicaid fraud, the same type of charge that landed him behind bars in 2003.

In a motion filed today, Assistant U. S. Attorney Richard Monroe attempted to have Dupont remain behind bars while awaiting trial. "This case involves an offense for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment on account of the deaths of 11 persons as a result of this offense."

Monroe said Dupont "is clearly a danager to the safety of other persons in the community. Due to the mismanagement of the Anderson Guest House, to include failure to expend funds on physical facilities, eleven persons died as a result of a negligent fire."
While Dupont was cutting corners on safety concerns, the documents note, "Dupont personally paid himself $52,000 in salary, not to mention other payments to his family members."

Despite the money Dupont paid himself, Judge James C. England ruled Dupont was "financially unable to employ counsel," and appointed Stuart Huffman to represent him.

Monroe said Dupont "poses a serious risk of flight" considering the severity of the charges.

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