Ballard man charged with kidnapping to stay in jail

Robert Paul Steiner of Ballard remains in jail this evening on $250,000 bail after a bond hearing today. Back in April, Steiner, was accused of kidnapping of a 5-year-old boy at Pike Place Market and charged with second-degree kidnapping. He has been in jail held on $250,000 bail since then. Today, a judge heard Steiner’s request to be released on his own recognizance or to have the bail amount reduced. The boy’s father was at the bond hearing to plea for the judge to not reduce the bail or release Steiner. Part of the statement read by the father in court says, “Our formerly cheerful 5 year old son is now in therapy, shows signs of child post traumatic stress disorder, could not leave our sides and return to school for a month out of pure fear, and still freezes in fear and hides behind us when he encounters any older man unknown to him.” The judge denied Steiner’s requests, according to Dan Donohoe of the King County Prosecutor’s office and will remain in jail on $250,000 bail.