A Clay County judge ordered Joseph P. Napolitano taken into custody Oct. 29 after he admitted violating his bond conditions by speaking to one of two children he had been ordered not to contact.
The child is not the alleged victim in Napolitano’s pending felony child molestation case.
Napolitano admitted speaking to the child through the child’s mother’s speakerphone. The details of the violation were discussed during the bond hearing but are not included in the online docket entry.
A Sept. 3 order prohibited Napolitano from contacting either child or entering a property in the 600 block of Platte Street in Weston. The Chronicle is withholding the children’s names to protect their privacy.
Judge Shane T. Alexander called the violation “baffling” and said, “I know I was clear, absolutely no contact.”
“Though this blatant violation is fairly minimal contact, it’s exactly what I said not to do,” Alexander said.
Napolitano was present in the courtroom with his attorney, Shawn L. Blair. Blair apologized on Napolitano’s behalf and told the judge Napolitano had ended his relationship with the child’s mother. Blair assured the court the contact would not happen again.
The state asked Alexander to revoke Napolitano’s bond. Alexander granted the motion in part, temporarily increasing the bond from $50,000 to $200,000 cash or surety and ordering Napolitano taken into custody immediately.
The court order states that Napolitano’s previously posted $50,000 bond will be reinstated at 8 a.m. Nov. 2. Upon his release, Napolitano will be placed on house arrest while continuing to be monitored electronically by GPS.
He may leave his home only for work, court appearances or meetings with his attorney, bond supervision officers or bondsman. All other previously imposed bond conditions remain in effect.
The state filed its motion to revoke or increase Napolitano’s bond Sept. 23.
Napolitano is charged with one count of second-degree child molestation involving an aggravated sexual offense against a different child. The Class B felony charge alleges that the child was younger than 17 and Napolitano was more than four years older. The alleged offense occurred April 7, according to court records.
Napolitano has pleaded not guilty. The charge is an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
His jury trial remains scheduled for March 15, 2027.
