Three Council Bluffs residents accused in the kidnapping and abuse of a special needs man living in their home, will be allowed to post bond prior to their trial. The Daily NonPareil reports 4^th District Court Judge Mark Eveloff on Monday decided to allow 55-year old Rebecca S. Beyer, 51-year old James W. Beyer, Jr., the step-mother and father of the alleged 20-year old victim, to post 10 percent of the bond, but Eveloff did not reduce the amount of their $100,000 bonds, as had been requested by attorneys for the accused. If they do post bond, the suspects will be placed on a pre-trial, supervised release. The judge also issued a No Contact order.

Rebecca Beyer was arrested June 19th on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping and willful injury causing serious injury. James Beyer, Jr. and his stepson, 22-year old Ryan M. Smith, were both arrested on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping. Attorneys for the Beyer’s said a family member would be able to post 10-percent of their $100,000 bonds. Smith’s attorney said he would likely receive the same option.

The charges against the trio were filed following an investigation into allegations the 20-year-old made in March, while speaking with workers at a Council Bluffs men’s shelter. The unidentified man told authorities that Rebecca Beyer allegedly heated spoons and forks on the stove and burned him with them. He also said he had been physically assaulted by his father, James Beyer, and that both his parents had threatened to kill him. The abuse had allegedly been going on for years.

Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney Amy Zacharias said none of the facts in the case have changed since the arrests were made on June 19th, except that DNA evidence was found on a leash the 20-year-old said was used to chain him up in the garage. Conversely, an attorney for the accused said testing on three other items – an iron said to have been used to burn the victim, a spoon and an extension cord – did not show any evidence of the victim’s DNA being on those items.