Daytona Beach, FL - A former Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor, 61-year-old Mark Fugler, was granted bond of $200,000 while his convictions for three counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to a victim under the age of 16, three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct and three counts of showing obscene material to a minor are under appeal.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood said that he "strongly disagrees with Judge Hutcheson's decision in this case. It's an injustice and a slap in the face of the young victim and her family." He also said that while the bond is set, Fugler has not paid the bond at this time. There are also other details to work out, if and when he is able to bond out.
The State Attorney's Office released a statement on the case, "The Prosecutors opposed the granting of a supersedeas bond in this case and argued that the defendant should begin serving his sentence immediately."
Volusia County Jail shows Fugler still in custody at this time. He was accused of showing pornographic material to a 7-year-old girl between August 19, 2014 and June 20, 2016. He also was accused of lewd acts in front of the child and soliciting the child to touch him in a sexual manner. The girl's mother learned of the offenses on Sept. 28, 2016, when she found a diary kept by the girl.
Fugler was an engineering professor at ERAU when he was arrested on Nov. 4, 2016 by Ormond Beach police. If and when he does serve his sentence, Fugler will have to register as a sex offender.
