A former Alabama church youth director was denied a bond reduction Monday morning on charges he sexually assaulted three young boys decades ago.
Thomas Randall Hosmer, 56, of Oneonta, is charged with 10 felony crimes – six counts of first-degree sodomy by force and four counts of first-degree sexual abuse by force.
Court records do not identify the church where he worked at the time of the brutal alleged assaults.
Hosmer was initially arrested by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office in January. His bond is set at $250,000.
He went before a judge Monday morning where his request for a reduction was denied. An Aniah’s Law bond hearing is set for May 28.
Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey said the charges are based on events that are alleged to have taken place during the mid to late 1990s through the mid-2000s.
The sheriff’s office in January posted on Facebook asking anyone who may have been a victim of sexual contact by Hosmer and never reported it to call investigators.
Sheriff Mark Moon said there is no indication Hosmer is currently involved in ministry but said investigators don’t know for sure.
The victims, the sheriff said, came forward with the allegations out of concern for other potential victims.
Assistant District Attorney Scott Gilliland, in written opposition of a bond reduction, detailed the horrific allegations against Hosmer.
The alleged abuse includes one young boy being tied to a bed and sexually assaulted to the point of injury. He also was “beaten into submission” with a razor strap or bamboo stick, the records state.
Another boy awoke to be sexually assaulted by Hosmer, the opposition document states.
“The defendant used his position as a church youth director to gain access to the boys and manipulate them to fear no one would believe them,’’ Gilliland wrote.
Hosmer, the prosecutor said, “remains a danger to the public.”
Hosmer’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He will be formally arraigned on the charges on May 30.
