In his first court appearance before Judge Joseph L. Foster, Sheerer's lawyer, Robert L. Tarver, Jr., argued that bail should be reduced to $20,000 with a 10 percent option.
TOMS RIVER -- A judge declined to reduce bail Monday afternoon for the Barnegat man found last week with Rosie O'Donnell's runaway daughter.
Steven M. Sheerer, 25, is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $40,000 cash bail. He was arrested on Friday and charged with distribution of obscenity to a minor and endangering the welfare of a child, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato has said.
RELATED: Man found with Rosie O'Donnell's missing daughter charged
Sheerer's lawyer, Robert L. Tarver, Jr., declined to discuss the details of the allegations facing his client but suggested there is more evidence that will show Sheerer did not engage in "some sort of predatory behavior."
"Our position is that we have some information that quite frankly the prosecution has not had the chance to consider," Tarver said. "... We're looking forward to the chance to present that evidence both to the prosecution and any other parties that we have to.
"The laws in the state of New Jersey don't allow me to comment on any matters involving a juvenile and there is an allegation here of endangering the welfare of a child," he said. "So I can't comment as to the nature of the victim or the identity of the victim."
Chelsie O'Donnell was found Tuesday night at Sheerer's Village Drive home in Barnegat Township just hours after her mother publicly announced her daughter was missing.
When Sheerer was arrested on Friday, authorities seized from his home a computer and other digital equipment as part of the ongoing investigation, Coronato said.
He said detectives from his office's High Tech Crime Unit and the Barnegat Police Department retrieved the girl's cell phone. The High Tech Crime Unit's examination of the phone show evidence of "inappropriate communications over the last several weeks" between Sheerer and the girl, he said.
In his first court appearance before Judge Joseph L. Foster, Tarver argued that bail for Sheerer, who appeared via videoconference, should be reduced to $20,000 with a 10 percent option.
"While he does have a criminal history, the record shows that he's always appeared (in court)," Tarver said. "I don't believe that he's a risk, he's shown himself not to be a risk."
Tarver said Sheerer has earned the trust of the court because he's always appeared in court.
Assistant Prosecutor Hillary Bryce argued against reducing Sheerer's bail, noting that he is currently on probation for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced to two years probation in December 2013, Bryce said.
Tarver noted that Sheerer has complied with the terms of his probation, and said his client is a Barnegat High School graduate who is currently employed by a moving company.
"He isn't a flight risk," Tarver said.
Foster declined to reduce Sheerer's bail and maintained his no contact order with the victim or her family.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.