Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Woman Claims Bail Bondsman Sexually Coerced Her

A woman who says she was coerced into having sex with a bail agent earlier this month will file a lawsuit against the man on Monday, her attorney said.

The 20-year-old Ocoee woman claims Allen Robert Burns Jr. of Mike Snapp Bail Bonds demanded collateral and said he would revoke her bond and put her back in jail unless she had sex with him, according to a draft of the suit.



The woman complied but then reported the incident to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Burns, 36, of Apopka, was arrested Jan. 20 and faces sexual assault charges. He was released from the Orange County Jail on $10,000 bond.

"This is a sad case of a man abusing his authority and position of power to instill fear and take advantage of a woman he should have been helping," said Richard Schwamm, the woman's attorney.

The woman, who has asked to remain anonymous because the nature of the crime against her, was arrested in October on a theft charge. That charge was dropped Jan. 25.

Sheriff's deputies investigated a 2005 claim that Burns sexually assaulted a woman who described herself as his friendly acquaintance, the Sheriff's Office said.

The sheriff's office also referred a 2008 sexual-assault claim against Burns to the Orlando Police Department.