‘Suspect’ in double homicide eligible for bail, Judge says
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President Judge Nancy Butts, citing the sex crime charges before her, ruled that Troy Bailey is eligible for bail in a Thursday afternoon hearing.
The charges, as identified by Assistant District Attorney Martin Wade, include indecent sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of minors.
At a preliminary hearing earlier this month, two juveniles and an adult female testified that Bailey, 57, of 1209 High St., had inappropriately touched them on multiple, separate occasions.
Bail is set at $1 million, and Bailey will be required to wear a GPS monitor if he is able post the amount.
Additionally, should he be released, Bailey will be under the auspices of the Intensive Supervised Bail Agency, which must approve of Bailey’s residence and employment.
"He has a constitutional right to bail," defense attorney Howard Gold told Butts.
He impressed upon her that Bailey currently has no detainer or bench warrants to keep him in jail and has local family members and a church he attends in the city.
While admitting to Bailey’s criminal past, Gold tried to seize this for his advantage, pointing out that Bailey has had no flight violations during any of those proceedings.
And, except for a few, suspects on similar charges are almost always eligible for bail, Gold said.
The charges were not challenged by the defense at the preliminary hearing, First Assistant District Attorney Martin Wade countered, adding that the lead charge carries a minimum of 10 years of state incarceration.
"We’re not talking about his flight history, we are talking about the substantial charges currently pending," he said, adding, "He has a significant criminal history involving personal injury."
"Everyone in the family is concerned about what might happen if he is released," Wade said.
"There is a significant risk of physical harm to the victims and witnesses" if Bailey is able to make bail, he told the judge, stating that his release would be "downright unsafe."
"There is a significant risk of people acting on the defendant’s behalf to do something in order to help his situation," she said.
She also worried that Bailey may do something to interfere with the case if released, echoing Wade’s earlier remarks.
Because other charges against Bailey are still sealed, Butts stressed that she could only decide bail based on the charges in front of her.
Bailey was arrested on a violation of a protection-from-abuse order shortly after Alisha Seese and Ronald Dailey Jr. were found to be fatally shot near Lycoming Engines the morning of Jan. 12.
Bailey, Seese and Dailey were employees of Security Alliance, a contractor providing security services for the plant.
Seese had received the protection-from-abuse order against Bailey in early December, and he allegedly violated that order just days before the killings.
No one has been charged in the killings or officially named, though Wade stated that Bailey is "aware that he is the subject of a criminal homicide investigation" at the preliminary hearing on the sex crime charges.
Reiterating that point at the Thursday hearing, Wade said Bailey is aware he is a "suspect in the murder of the PFA violation complainant."
Earlier Thursday, Bailey appeared before District Judge Christian Frey via video to be arraigned on three counts each of forgery, identity theft, theft by deception and one misdemeanor count of making false statements to obtain benefits, filed earlier this week.
Bailey initially seemed surprised as Frey began to read the new offenses, asking, "What case is this for?"
Once the appropriate paperwork was furnished to Bailey, the hearing proceeded normally.
Court documents allege that Bailey worked under his son's social security number from 2021 to this year, gaining employment with the LG Car Wash (Faxon Car Wash), the Hampton Inn and Security Alliance, resulting in about $29,027.
Troy Bailey Jr. has been jailed since May 20, 2019, serving a life sentence for murder, city police alleged in court documents.
Additionally, Bailey Sr. "unlawfully obtained $1,329 in social security disability benefits and another $6,399 in social security benefits," it was alleged in court documents.
The individual who reported the deception to investigators shortly after the shootings also told a detective that Seese had exposed this to Lycoming Engines, resulting in Bailey’s suspension, according to an affidavit.
Agent Brittany Alexander urged Frey to set a high bail, citing the sex crimes Bailey is currently charged with. That fact combined with his close family ties make him a flight risk, she argued.
Calling him a "danger to society," Alexander also cited Bailey’s 13-page criminal history that includes assault and robbery charges.
While acknowledging that Bailey has appeared at all previous matters before him, Frey said the "current factual landscape is different."
He added that, while the identity theft-related crimes before him were "non-violent," they do include nine felony counts.
Ultimately, Frey set bail at $100,000.