BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Former Bloomfield High School teacher and running coach Leo Donaldson appeared with his husband and co-defendant, Bradley Donaldson, in Newark Superior Court before Judge Richard Sules on Friday, Oct. 27.
It was a brief hearing. Sules said he understood that there was new electronic information.
Leo Donaldson’s attorney, Joshua Forsman, standing in for Timothy Smith, confirmed this and said this information had recently been discovered and would require time to consider. Sules said it was also his understanding that Leo Donaldson’s defense was going to undertake its own investigation. Forsman confirmed this, too.
As in their last court appearance, the Donaldsons were dressed crisply. Leo Donaldson wore a blue shirt and red tie under a dark pullover. Bradley Donaldson wore a white shirt and dark tie with a dark pullover.
Sules suggested a December date for the next hearing but Assistant Essex County Prosecutor Kathleen Lyons-Boswick, standing in for Assistant Essex County Prosecutor Celeste Montesino, said Montesino would not be available. It was agreed the next hearing would be Jan. 8.
Sules wanted to know if there was anything else. Forsman and Bradley Donaldson’s attorney, Frank Arleo, said no. Sules then said he expected a pre-trial resolution or a trial scheduled at the next hearing.
Leo Donaldson has been indicted on 36 counts of aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual contact and criminal coercion. He had been coaching the BHS cross-country and track teams for eight years when he was arrested in Oct. 2016. Bradley Donaldson has been indicted on one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
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