Maranta doesn’t have $250,000 bond reduced

A man who allegedly photographed himself having sexual relations with a 13-year-old girl was bound to the grand jury this week with his defense calling for a reduction in bond.

The defendant, Christopher Maranta, 37, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday before General Sessions Judge Larry Ross and was bound to the April term of the Warren County grand jury on numerous counts ranging from sexual battery by an authority figure to solicitation and sexual exploitation of a minor. He remains held under a $250,000 bond pending grand jury action.

While facing serious felony charges, Maranta was assigned the public defender’s office to represent him Tuesday. His bond hearing, however, will not be held until after he is indicted into circuit court. His defense suggested bond should be lowered since Maranta did not try to flee even while lawmen had his computer under analysis for several months prior to his arrest.

Maranta was arrested last month after pictures of the teen-age girl were found on his computer. The pictures, all reportedly taken by Maranta, showed him having sexual relations with the girl and also reportedly showed the girl in various stages of undress. Lawmen believe Maranta had multiple sexual contacts with the girl, charging him with at least two separate dates he reportedly had inappropriate contact with the teen.

‘Investigations revealed that there were pictures on Mr. Maranta’s computer showing him performing oral sex on the victim,’ one of the arrest warrants against Maranta reads, with another warrant claiming he photographed himself having inappropriate contact with the teen on another occasion.

Investigators discovered the pictures were loaded onto Maranta’s computer June 24.

‘These pictures showed the victim was intentionally induced to engage in sexual activity that was patently offensive and observed by Christopher Maranta,’ the warrants read.