Judge Refuses Bond Reduction for Dad in Teen Beating Case

Despite an argument by his lawyer that Racine County Judge Allan “Pat” Torhorst refused to lower Schram's bond.

Schram appeared in court Tuesday with his defense attorney, John German, to request a reduction of his $50,000 bond. The Journal Times is reporting German didn't make a specific dollar amount request.

Schram and his two sons are accused of chasing down and attacking a car full of teenagers after the boys went to the Schram's to entice a fight. German argued that Schram didn't actively participate in the altercation

“There’s nothing in the allegations indicating Mr. Schram was the party who hit anybody or had a weapon at any time; $50,000 cash is an extraordinary amount of money,” German is quoted as saying during the hearing.

The JT reports that Torhorst explained his reason for denying the request by saying, “The injuries were serious. Children are involved. Bond is not ridiculously low, but a reasonable amount.”

Schram, 43, and his sons, Kevin, 19, and Matthew, 17, are charged with felonies for the attack. George and Kevin are facing three counts of felony child abuse and one count each of criminal damage to property. George is also facing a misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a child. 

Matthew was waived into adult court with a $25,000 bail. He is charged with three felony counts of contributing to the physical abuse of a child and a single felony count of criminal damage to property.

According to the criminal complaint, the teens in the car were involved in an on-going altercation with Kevin and went to the Schram residence to try and goad Kevin into a fight. When that didn't work, the teens left to take a friend home. 

Police say George Schram called the boys back to his house, but when the boys saw a larger group of people outside, they left and were pursued by the Schrams. When the teens' car got stuck in snow on a dead end street, that's when the attack began.