Updated 05/06/2010 09:07 PM
SUNY professor back in court
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CORTLAND, N.Y. -- A SUNY Cortland professor charged with repeatedly raping a young girl was back in court Thursday, looking to be released.
Daniel DePerno's attorney, Randolph Kruman, requested that the $100,000 bail be lowered or eliminated. Kruman said as the sole provider for a wife and two children, DePerno should be allowed to go back to work, but the judge wasn't swayed.
The prosecution said DePerno is mentally unstable, pointing to an incident in which the defendant reportedly threatened to kill himself and the alleged victim.
"We think that he is having a strong negative effect not only on the victim, but on every member of his family," said Cortland County District Attorney Mark Suben. "His obsessive, alarming, totally unacceptable behavior is such that he should stay right where he is."
DePerno faces more than thirty charges of rape, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. He was sent back to the Cortland County Jail.
SUNY Cortland officials said even if he does make bail, DePerno will not be returning to his job at this time.