Twenty-five-year-old Tyler Barney, was charged with two second degree felonies in 7th District Court on Wednesday.
Barney was arrested on November 10, in connection with the child sex abuse crimes of Amanda and Timothy Romano.В Charges were filed against Mr. and Mrs. Romano on Wednesday, December 5. Timothy Romano was charged with two counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child, a first-degree felony, in connection with one child. Amanda Romano was charged with five counts of object sex abuse of a child, five counts of sodomy on a child, and four counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies, in connection with two children. Currently investigators believe six children have been involved, one who lived in the Romano household has since been removed by DCFS. The crimes are believed to have taken place over a two year period.
Barney was a roommate of the Romanos, and has now been charged with two counts of sexually abusing a child. The original bail for Barney was $200,000, but with diminishedВ charges his bail wasВ droppedВ to $20,000 at the request of Judge Douglas B. Thomas.
” I know the state would like the bail set at $30,000 and Attorney Blackburn would appreciate $15,000 but I am going to set the bail at $20,000 which is theВ recommendВ amount for two second degree felonies,” Judge Thomas said.
A preliminary hearing has beenВ tentativelyВ set for the Romanos and Barney on December 21, at 9a.m.