Victim responds after suspect is released; after she says she was beaten almost to death

ROCHESTER, NY (WHAM) – One of the suspects charged in a recent carjacking, kidnapping and brutal assault has been released from custody.

The case raises many questions.

After the alleged attack on Bittner Street in Rochester. 20-year-old Shawntae Hall was placed on electronic monitoring. She was initially charged earlier this month and given the same conditions of release by a judge, but today we learned she never received the ankle bracelet. That led to a warrant for her arrest.

Allison Smith says she was ambushed, kidnapped and nearly beaten to death on Sept. 13, and with today’s release of a suspect in the case, Smith says she doesn’t feel safe.

Smith turned 30 last week, but she says her birthday celebration was very different this year.

“I couldn’t leave my house. I couldn’t do anything normal,” Smith says. “I was celebrating my birthday and I wasn’t even in this part of town the whole time, but I was just looking over my back the whole time.”

Smith is still recovering from a violent carjacking and assault on Sept. 13.

Hall is charged with robbery, assault and unlawful imprisonment in the case.

She was arraigned Oct. 3 and released on electronic monitoring by Municipal Court Judge Van White.

Judge White says she was supposed to have the device fitted the next day, but prosecutors say she never got it.

Assistant District Attorney Ellie Laloudakis says, “It is my understanding that she went into the building for the preliminary hearing to try to have it set up, but refused to have it set up and left the building at that point.”

Judge White issued an arrest warrant for Hall.

According to prosecutors, Hall was arrested by police two weeks later, arraigned in Rochester Municipal Court on Oct. 19 and the judge ordered her released under electronic monitoring. Hall appeared before Judge White again today.

Judge White expressed disappointment that Hall was still in the Monroe County Jail and did not yet have an ankle monitor.

Two hours later, Hall appeared in Monroe County Court to apply for bail.

Judge Douglas Randall rejected Judge White’s decision.

“When in doubt, I always give someone the benefit of the doubt,” says Laloudakis. “I hope she complies, but you know there are mechanisms in place for her to be taken into custody if she does not comply. Her release status may have been reviewed.”

Smith says she was devastated when she learned Hall had been released.

“It was just that relief again, ‘Okay, we’re moving forward,’ they seemed to make the right decisions to get the call right away after they had better news to share than being under house arrest again,” Smith said.

Hall’s defense attorney declined to comment for this report.