By Sunni Battin

Special to the Journal

TROY – Nearly two months after being indicted by a grand jury on multiple child abuse felony charges, a Winfield woman could be released anytime in the next week on a reduced bond.

On Friday morning, Judge Thomas Frawley lowered the bond for Brenda Deutsch to $50,000. An earlier request to lower the $250,000 bond was twice denied by Judge Michael Jacobs. In addition to th reduction, Frawley allowed for a 10 percent surety bond, or $5,000, for her release.

As a foster mother to more than 200 children, Deutsch is accused of “systemic” child abuse. In May, a grand jury indicted her on three Class D felonies — two counts of child abuse and neglect and one count of child endangerment. Each count has a minimum of one year in prison and a maximum of seven years.

Friday’s bond reduction for some is a big win and for others a setback.

“You never know in these situations what the court will do,” said Joseph Flees II, one of Deutsch’s attorneys. “We knew the judge would make whatever best decision he felt was appropriate. We obviously agree with his decision and are respectful of it…A case of this nature and this potential size takes a while to get to trial. We are glad that there is no trial date yet.”

But for Brina Johnson, Deutsch’s biological daughter, the bond reduction was a big disappointment.

“I’m pissed,” she said. “Nobody outside here in the free world wants her out here. She’s very disrespectful, ignorant, (and) mean to even innocent bystanders…Over three decades of abuse, she shouldn’t be able to walk out here.”

Revelations of Deutsch’s alleged abuse and felony charges stem from allegations of a teenager that was reported missing at the end of last year prior to law enforcement locating her in Texas in February. She was living “in squalor” according to the prosecutor’s office and left unattended for several consecutive days. She remains in state custody in Texas amid allegations Deutsch had traded her to the woman in Texas for a monkey and refused to allow the girl to return to her Winfield home.

Previously, John Krehmeyer, assistant prosecutor alleged that Deutsch, while in jail, was attempting to interfere with the investigation. He told Jacobs the prosecutor’s office taped phone calls from the jail in which Deutsch is attempting to dissuade witnesses from cooperating in the investigation and asking a neighbor to remove surveillance cameras from her property.

“Her conduct is indicative of a person with a consciousness of guilt,” Krehmeyer stated.

Soon after that hearing, a Lincoln County grand jury indicted Deutsch on the fel0ny charges. Consequently, her case was transferred into the circuit court, which brought in the new judge.

While Deutsch remains in custody at this time in the Lincoln County jail, if she posts the bond, conditions of her release include surrendering her passport, GPS monitoring, and no unsupervised visits with minors.

Next up, Deutsch will have a status hearing on Sept. 26 at 8:30 a.m. At that time, a trial date could also be determined.