Abused Montco Boy's Mom Charged With Felony Child Endangerment

NORRISTOWN, PA — The mother of a 5-year-old boy who prosecutors say was abused by her boyfriend is now facing criminal charges in connection with the abuse, while prosecutors simultaneously announced that the boyfriend, also charged in the case, had his bail revoked during an emergency hearing and was immediately taken into custody Monday morning.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced Monday that they have charged Emily Laster, 30, of Sanatoga, with felony child endangerment and related charges in connection with the abuse of her young son in western Montgomery County.

Patch previously reported on the arrest of the boyfriend, 31-year-old Steven Dougherty, of Collingdale, Delaware County.

Related: Montco Boy's Genitals Injured During Abuse By Mom's Boyfriend: Cops

Dougherty had initially been freed after his arraignment, but prosecutors filed a motion seeking an emergency bail review hearing, which was granted and then held on Monday morning before Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Virgil B. Walker.

Walker subsequently revoked Dougherty's bail and ordered the defendant be immediately taken into custody by sheriff deputies, according to the DA's Office.

Dougherty faces a preliminary hearing in early August before Magisterial District Court Judge Edward C. Kropp, Sr.

"Judge Walker heard the disturbing evidence in this case, as well as heard our argument that defendant Dougherty posed a danger to the victim and the community," District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement. "The defendant is now behind bars awaiting trial."

Steele previously said the case of child abuse is one of the more disturbing ones to have come before his office.

The case includes allegations that Dougherty injured the 5-year-old's genitals during the course of the abuse.

The boy is no longer in the custody of Laster, his mother. He now resides with relatives.

Prosecutors this week say they charged Laster along with Dougherty because there is evidence that while she did not cause the actual physical harm to the child, "she had a duty of care as a mother to protect her 5-year-old son, yet she continued to leave her son in Dougherty's sole care," reads a news release from the DA's Office.

Laster was arraigned Monday on a first-degree felony count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child/Violate Duty of Care (under 6 years old), and a first-degree misdemeanor count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Investigators say that Dougherty abused the young boy over a months-long period.

Dougherty was initially released on $1,000 bail following his arrest; a lower court judge set bail at $10,000, and the defendant was able to post 10 percent of the total to secure his release.

The DA's Office said that it argued at the time of the arraignment for a larger, $250,000 cash bail, after Magisterial District Court Judge Albert J. Augustine set the lower amount.

Prosecutors were initially denied the bail review, but that decision was reversed following Monday's emergency hearing in Norristown.

In Pennsylvania, magisterial district court judges are elected, and they do not need to possess law degrees in order to carry out the job.

Yet magisterial district judges are the ones who are charged with arraigning criminal defendants in Pennsylvania, and they also get to decide during the preliminary hearing phase whether enough evidence exists in order for a case to move forward to the trial court level.

As for Laster, the DA's Office said that charges were initially filed against her on July 18, but that she was out of state at the time.

An arrest warrant was subsequently issued, and Laster returned to Montgomery County on Monday and turned herself into law enforcement, prosecutors stated.

Court records show that a preliminary hearing for Laster has been scheduled for August 2 before Magisterial District Court Judge Edward C. Kropp, Sr.