A Wisconsin man arrested for allegedly hitting, smothering and making vividly violent threats against his “Sugar Baby” was denied bond Tuesday, June 28.
At a Columbia County Superior Court bond hearing for James S. Bromeland, 45, the prosecutor told the judge how sheriff deputies called to the Hyatt Place on May 10 listened to a recording made of what took place that night after an argument between Bromeland and a woman from Florida, both of whom have traveled to meet up at various locations for the past two years.
On the recording is the sound of smothered cries, slapping and Bromeland telling the victim that she was going to die that night, that she was going to call her children and tell them goodbye, said Assistant District Attorney Ashley Muller. The woman had significant injuries including a black eye and bruises, Muller said.
At some point Bromeland realized the victim was using her phone to record the encounter. He let her leave if she promised to erase the recording, Muller said. She told the judge she was opposing bond because she believed Bromeland was a flight risk and a risk at intimidating witnesses or otherwise interfering with the legal process. Bromeland’s wife has called the victim and offered her money to change her story, and a letter found in Bromeland’s cell that is supposedly from the victim is not her handwriting, she told Muller.
But defense attorney Grant Usry countered that Bromeland’s wife is trying to hurt Bromland by threatening to fire any employee who cooperates with the defense. She has taken over his company that he successfully built by himself, a company with large contracts to maintain railroad tracks in several states, Usry said.
Although he doesn’t know for sure who wrote the letter since it was in ink. it wasn’t Bromeland because inmates aren’t allowed to have ink pens, but it was obviously from either the victim or someone in the room that night because of the detail, Usry said. In it, the writer promises to tell the truth if Bromeland pays money.
Usry said Bromeland has lined up a place to live locally to show he isn’t a flight risk, and he was willing to abide by any restrictions to be free to run his business.
Bromeland is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and battery. The victim told sheriff officers that she and Bromeland would meet at various locations after traveling separately, and that she called him “Sugar Daddy” and he called her his “Sugar Baby.” Bromeland paid for her expenses, she said.
Senior Judge J. David Roper denied bond Tuesday. However, he suggested as the facts of the case become clearer Bromeland’s attorney will be free to petition for bond again.
