Judge Tenn. Bail set at $775K for Elderly Lyme man wanted on child rape charges

Oct. 30 — A judge on Wednesday set bail at $775,000 for a man captured in Old Lyme and wanted in Tennessee on multiple charges of sexual assault of a minor.

Kody T. Stewart, 30, was arrested Tuesday after police in Chattanooga, Tenn., notified police that Stewart, who was possibly armed, might be living at 104 Grassy Hill Road in Old Lyme.

Police found Stewart at the home and charged him with being a fugitive from justice. He was also charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of risk of injury to a child after police said they found an unregistered and unsecured .40-caliber handgun in a duffel bag in his bedroom.

Police said Stewart’s 1-year-old daughter was in the same bedroom as the firearm. Police said a 10-year-old child also lived in the home where Stewart had lived for the past eight months.

In New London Superior Court on Wednesday, Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Aksterowicz said Stewart faces multiple sexual assault-related charges in Tennessee, where he is accused of sexually assaulting a victim under the age of 13.

The charges in Tennessee include persistent sexual abuse of a child, sexual contact with a minor, attempted rape of a child, five counts of aggravated sexual assault and eight counts of rape of a child.

New London Superior Court Judge Tamar R. Birckhead set a total bail of $775,000 for the two cases, calling it an “extremely serious matter.” Stewart agreed to be extradited to Tennessee. He is scheduled to return to New London Superior Court on Nov. 26.

Editor’s note: This version corrects the name of the judge who determined the bond amount.