BY Sarah smith
ssmith@parkrapidsenterprise.com
A Hubbard County District Judge will consider modifying the bail of a Benedict surgeon charged with the attempted murder of his foster son.
Bail for Dennis James Sulllivan Jr., 50, charged with attempted Second Degree Murder, First Degree Assault and Second Degree Assault, is currently set at $500,000 with conditions. He is accused of allegedly stuffing a latex glove down the throat of the boy in June. The boy was subsequently removed from the residence. Some earlier accusations of torture came to light during the investigation.
Defense attorney Michael Undem asked for bail at half that amount with a 10 percent surety. Judge Paul Rasmussen said he would take the matter under advisement.
Hubbard County Attorney Don Dearstyne argued against the bail reduction, telling Rasmussen the charges were serious and Sullivan faced major prison time if convicted.
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He did not oppose telephone contact with Sullivan’s 2½-year-old son, which Rasmussen granted for the biological child.
But Sullivan is barred from all contact with the 10-year-old foster son.
Dearstyne argued that lowering Sullivan’s bail might enable him to get out of jail. “He is a pilot,” Dearstyne argued.
“He presents public safety issues.”
”He is not a pilot,” Undem said twice.
Sullivan allegedly flies to several clinics in the region to perform surgery but does not fly himself, Undem said. It is unclear if Sullivan owns a plane.
An Aug. 25 uncontested omnibus hearing was set in the case.
