TROY – A pair of decisions Tuesday afternoon in a Lincoln County court didn’t go as Brenda Deutsch hoped.

The foster mother to more than 200 children remains in custody at the Lincoln County Jail on a $250,000 bond after Associate Court Judge Michael Jacobs denied a request to lower it.

“I just want to go home and get this issue taken care of,” Deutsch said regarding the three felony charges she faces, including two counts of child abuse and one count of child neglect.

Law enforcement arrested Deutsch at her rural Winfield home April 6 on the felony abuse charges alleging she physically and mentally abused a 16-year-old girl she fostered.

Deutsch has also been accused of trading the girl to a woman in Texas for a monkey.

Texas officials placed the girl in protective custody, who then detailed the years of abuse she claims Deutsch subjected her to, resulting in the charges.

Tuesday in court, Lincoln County Assistant Prosecutor Tasia Meglio told Judge Jacobs she opposed any reduction in bond, adding the state requested a higher amount intentionally.

She argued Deutsch possesses the financial resources to be a flight risk and that she could have undue influence on another child who had been living with her.

Meglio also stressed the potential serial nature of Deutsch’s crimes.

“The child who was sent down to the state of Texas … she talked several times about how she was abused by the defendant,” Meglio said. “The defendant would, basically humiliate her … (and) it’s not just one time. It’s multiple instances of abuse. There are other children in the home that have possibly been affected. And there have been people calling in saying this wasn’t a one-time issue.”

The Lincoln County Journal has contacted several other individuals who stated they were either subjected to or witnessed abuse at the hands of Deutsch. Prosecutor Mike Wood previously said several other victims have come forward as well.

By contrast though, Deutsch had several supporters in the crowd who she acknowledged after the court hearing.

One of them described her as a “very pleasant woman” and a “loving and caring person.”

“Her heart has always gone out to her children,” said Brian Hargis, who has known Deutsch personally for about a year through a church they both attend.

He even claimed Brenda is the victim, stating church members have gone to her house several times to repair damage caused by violent children.

“She physically threatened Brenda, several times,” Hargis said of the teenage girl Deutsch allegedly sent to Texas. “This is clearly a matter of elder abuse. What she really needs help with is the attitude of the children which she couldn’t deal with.”

Prior to rejecting her bond reduction request, a representative from the public defender’s office stated Deutsch didn’t qualify for an attorney from their office.

“Obviously judge, we would represent everyone if we could, but we have guidelines,” the representative said. “And bottom line, based on those guidelines, she doesn’t qualify.”

According to real estate records, Deutsch is listed as the deed holder on a 2,900-square foot home that sits on more than 16 acres, with multiple mobile homes located throughout the property as well.

Judge Jacobs didn’t issue a formal ruling on Deutsch’s request and the public defender’s denial. He said he would take it under advisement and scheduled a follow-up hearing on the matter for Thursday at 9:30 a.m.