An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel Saeli, who was arraigned and released on $10,000 bail Monday on charges he abducted a 13-year-old boy from the Fredonia Wal-Mart. Acting Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson says, as a father of two young children, he is "extremely unhappy" that he was notified of the arrest and arraignment after they took place and that Saeli was allowed free on such low bail. Swanson says the law requires the court to provide the District Attorney an opportunity to recommend bail - which would have been "significantly higher" - but was not given the opportunity.
Saeli was arraigned for the B violent felony of kidnapping in the second degree in the Village of Fredonia Court. Swanson says the court set bail on its own in the amount of $10,000 cash/bond or $20,000 property. It was not until Tuesday that he was notified.
Swanson says it was then his office discovered that Saeli already was on parole for a felony and issued the arrest warrant for parole violation through County Court. Swanson says he shares the concerns of the community that this suspect is free and does not know why his office was not notified of Saeli's capture and arraignment.
