Donaldson given 30 days to negotiate a sentence

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Leo and Bradley Donaldson appeared in Newark Superior Court on Friday, Sept. 15, for a brief hearing before Judge Richard Sules. Both defendants were represented by Timothy Smith, the attorney for Leo Donaldson, with Frank Arleo, the attorney for Bradley Donaldson, absent.

Sules said he understood that ongoing negotiations between the defendants and the state would take 30 days. He scheduled the next hearing for Friday, Oct. 27, at which time, he said, a date for the trial would be considered. Representing the state is Assistant Essex County Prosecutor Celeste Montesino.

The Donaldsons, who are married, have been indicted on 37 counts of of aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual contact and criminal coercion. Bradley Donaldson has been indicted on one of the counts.

The hearing lasted about five minutes but out in the hallway, Smith spoke at length with his client as Bradley Donaldson stood a few steps away absorbed by a smart phone. Both defendants were neatly dressed; Leo Donaldson wore a blue shirt and black slacks, Bradley Donaldson had on a striped, beige shirt.

It was a busy morning for justice. The hallway benches were filled with people waiting, and a considerable number of people were in the courtroom. A police officer seemed always busy leaving and entering the courtroom and at one time he ordered a man to get out of the corridor leading to the women’s bathroom. The man had gone there to speak on a cell phone.

Once the Donaldsons left, Smith said he was reviewing the minutes of the grand jury hearing. He said it was too early to say what direction the case would take, whether it would be a trial or a plea.

Leo Donaldson is a former Bloomfield High School teacher and running coach.
The various criminal acts allegedly occurred in 2015 and 2016, in Jersey City and Bloomfield, including at BHS.