Bail lowered, but mom accused of gifting teen stays jailed

A judge lowered bail Friday for Savilla Stoltzfus, the jailed mother of a teenager found living in a Bucks County home with a man accused of raping and fathering children with her, but her attorney said she will stay in prison.

Bucks County Court Judge Jeffrey L. Finley reduced bail from $1 million to $250,000. Stoltzfus would have to post 10 percent to get out of jail.

"It's still too high," said Craig Penglase, her attorney, saying Stoltzfus did not have "any financial resources."

Assistant District Attorney Kate Kohler said the new bail was "very reasonable."

Stoltzfus, 42, of Quarryville, Lancaster County, was arrested last month along with her husband, Daniel, on charges of child endangerment. Authorities said the couple told them they "gifted" their then-14-year-old daughter, now 18, to Lee Kaplan, 51, to thank him for helping save their farm from financial ruin.

Penglase took issue with that account on Friday, saying Stoltzfus did not give her child away.

Officials said that in addition to the 18-year-old's two children, nine other girls were living in the house, and that the Stoltzfuses said all are their daughters.

The children are now under the care of Bucks County Children and Youth Services.

Under the new bail terms, Stoltzfus can have no contact with the children, her husband, or Kaplan. The men each remain jailed on $1 million bail.

Savilla Stoltzfus was briefly in court on Friday, handcuffed and wearing a red jumpsuit. She did not speak.

Penglase said he would seek a further bail reduction.

"This is an individual that has no prior criminal record," he said.

Kohler said the $250,000 figure was appropriate. "It's an amount that I think would definitely secure her presence [at future proceedings] ... and protect the community," she said.

A preliminary hearing for Kaplan and the Stoltzfuses is scheduled for Aug. 2 in District Court in Feasterville.

jmcdaniel@philly.com 610-313-8205 @McDanielJustine