A Manhattan man accused of sex crimes involving three underage victims, appeared via his Riley County jail cell for a continued status conference, with no attorney present.
Robert Iacobellis informed Judge William Malcolm that his long-time attorney Richard Seaton declined to represent him against the charges and that his family is speaking with two other potential attorneys this week. Judge Malcolm encouraged him to apply for court appointed counsel in the alternative, and granted him another one week continuance to 1 p.m. September 3. Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson said the state was not opposed to the continuance.
Iacobellis requested a bond reduction from $500,000 to $250,000, so that he could potentially return to work. He is the owner of Bob’s Diner in Manhattan. That request was denied by the court. Wilkerson said the state opposed lowering the bond, noting there could still be more to come on the case.
Iacobellis is currently charged with one count of rape from a 2014 alleged incident with a then 11-year-old girl. He also faces two counts of aggravated indecent liberties from two alleged incidents in January 2018 involving a then 10-year-old and 15-year-old girl.
