Aroostook County Man Denied Bond Reduction In Alabama Petting Zoo Child Abuse Case

A district judge in Alabama has denied a motion to reduce bond of an Aroostook County, Maine man who is accused of abusing two children at a traveling petting zoo in northwest Alabama. 

Lauderdale County District Judge Carole Medley has declined a reduced bond for 48-year-old Daryl V. Raymond Jr. of Stockholm, Maine. Raymond is being held at the Lauderdale County Detention Center on a $300,000 bond.

Raymond worked with the Jungle Safari Petting Zoo. He was arrested last week and charged with two counts of sex abuse of a child under 12.

The petting zoo had set up operations in the Big Lots Shopping Center. Robert Engesser, the owner of Jungle Safari, told WAAY31 they have temporarily stopped operations and are not traveling to any other cities after leaving the Shoals.

Engesser said he did detailed background checks and warrant searches on Raymond and found nothing in his history to indicate a problem.

Police say the victims are all girls between the ages of three and five. Five children have made allegations so far.

Raymond's court-appointed attorney, Cody Hand, requested his client's bond amount be lowered.