BOSTON — The man accused of filming dozens of boys in the bathroom of Boston Latin School will soon be released from prison.
In March, a magistrate judge ordered Eric Than Thai into detention while he awaits trial for allegations of sexual exploitation of a child. Prosecutors say in 2017, Thai secretly recorded boys using the bathrooms at Boston Latin School, Thai's own alma mater.
Eric Tran Thai enters the courtroom earning an orange jumpsuit, handcuffs and with his hair hanging in his face. He will be arraigned and then have a bail review hearing later this afternoon @boston25
— Kathryn Burcham (@kathrynburcham) April 9, 2019
>> ORIGINAL STORY: Man arrested after allegedly filming boys in Boston Latin School restrooms
The judge deemed that although the "government asked for home detention with electronic monitoring" the "danger posed by Thai's release is substantial" after learning "GPS data is viewed daily by the probation office, but... but this review does not occur in real time."
The attorney for Eric Tran Thai is now asking a judge to reconsider his custody in federal prison, after the judge become concerned probation officers couldn’t monitor Thai’s movements while on house arrest in real time @boston25
— Kathryn Burcham (@kathrynburcham) April 9, 2019
On Tuesday, another federal judge reviewing Thai's bail conditions changed course, ruling that Thai could be released to home arrest 24/7, an order so strict, Thai can't even leave his home to meet with his attorney.
Defense attorney argues that because prosecutors didn’t move for federal detention at Thai’s initial appearance last month, the judge shouldn’t be allowed to change those conditions @boston25
— Kathryn Burcham (@kathrynburcham) April 9, 2019
Thai's lawyer says Thai has already proven he can follow bail conditions, noting he's been facing criminal charges on the state level for a year and never once violated his bail order.
>> MORE: Man charged with filming in bathrooms detained pending trial
It's still unclear when exactly Thai will be released as the probation department now has to go search his home and remove any electronic devices.
Judge orders Thai WILL be released on 24/7 home arrest, pending removal of all electronic devices from home @boston25
— Kathryn Burcham (@kathrynburcham) April 9, 2019
He will be back in court in May and prosecutors warn more charges could still be coming as they work to identify more victims.
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