Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter spoke to 13WHAM Tuesday, March 5, 2024, calling for changes to the NYS bail reform law following the arrest and release of Shalom Mathews, a St. John Fisher University student charged in a pair of cases.
Pittsford, N.Y. — There's new calls for changes to New York state's bail reform law after the St. John Fisher student charged in a pair of cases was released from custody. Shalom Mathews, the 19-year-old who allegedly tried to kidnap and sexually abuse a Fisher staff member at knifepoint in her office last week, is due back in court next month after proceedings set to take place Tuesday night were adjourned.Police: St. John Fisher student arrested after attempted kidnapping prompted lockdown
Mathews was arrested in both cases and released on an appearance ticket, prompting Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter to release a statement Tuesday, urging lawmakers to take swift and decisive action to address loopholes in the current law. "Within a few short hours, because the perpetrator had the means, he was released. That's our law," Baxter said. "We clearly lack a dangerous standard in NYS. This is a case of a dangerous standard."13WHAM has reached out to state lawmakers for their opinions on the NYS bail reform law and Mathews' case.