A judge has approved a bond increase for a former Martinsville teacher from $20,000 to $150,000 property/surety plus $10,000 cash.
Brittany Fortinberry faces several counts of child molestation, sexual misconduct with a minor, dissemination of matter harmful to minors, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
At Thursday’s court hearing, deputy prosecutor Michelle Armstrong said Fortinberry has made statements while in jail about running away to Savannah, Georgia, and changing her name. Armstrong also said a higher bond is necessary because Fortinberry now knows exactly which victims, eight in total, have spoken out.
A no-contact order is in place.
Armstrong also said each victim has been threatened with some form of retaliation, whether it be Brittany Fortinberry’s alleged threats of suicide or from Brittany’s husband, Nicholas Fortinberry.
Read more: Husband charged in connection to former Martinsville teacher’s sexual assault charges
Defense attorney Joseph Vaughn did not argue against the bond increase.
A pre-trial conference is set for 1:15 p.m. May 22.
Both sides agreed they would not be ready for the original June 25 trial date. Judge Sara Dungan canceled that trial date in favor of a new date yet to be determined.