Kristopher Prudhomme, convicted earlier this month of crimes that led to his housemate losing his legs, will need to come up with $35,000 if he wants to go home to the Houston, Texas, area while awaiting sentencing.

The 30-year-old former Electric Boat draftsman was free on a $250,000 surety bond and living in Texas while awaiting trial. His father, Larry Prudhomme, had posted the bond, which required paying a fee that is non-refundable and being responsible for the entire amount should Prudhomme fail to appear in court.

Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed increased the bond by $350,000 to a total of $600,000, after a New London jury convicted him of first-degree assault, cruelty to persons and tampering with evidence.

Prudhomme, who was taken into custody, faces a maximum of 30 years in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 26. 

His father is considering posting the additional bond so that Prudhomme can return to Texas to live and work until sentencing. Defense attorney Damon A.R. Kirschbaum said during a bond hearing Monday in Superior Court that the father would have to pay a fee of approximately $24,500 to secure the new bond.

Kirschbaum asked the judge to convert the bond to $35,000 cash, which would be fully refundable if Prudhomme turns up for sentencing. Alternatively, he asked the judge to convert the bond to a 10 percent cash option, which means the father would pay 10 percent of the $350,000 without going through a bondsman, and would receive the money back if Prudhomme showed up for sentencing. However, he would be responsible for the entire $600,000 if Prudhomme failed to appear.

Prosecutor Stephen M. Carney said Prudhomme is not entitled to any bond given the circumstances. He said Prudhomme's family should stop spending money, and that it would be best for Prudhomme, who if facing years in prison, to start accruing some jail credit.

The judge denied the defense request for a cash bond, but granted the 10 percent option. She said Prudhomme is required to post the bond in court. Once released, he would be required to live in the Houston suburb of Alleyton with his father, be employed, receive mental health treatment and have a 6 p.m. curfew.

Testimony at the trial had revealed that Prudhomme, who was living in an apartment on Main Street in Norwich, had invited Michael Lovering to stay with him while Lovering got his life together. The two men were both involved in the Goth scene and had met while serving as DJs and music promoters in New Orleans clubs.

On Oct. 22, 2016, after coming home from a concert in New Haven, Lovering, who was drinking, admitted to Prudhomme that he had slept with Prudhomme's girlfriend, Lauren Muskus, while Prudhomme was at work, according to testimony.

Lovering said he was sitting on the floor, his legs tucked under him, when he felt pressure on his neck and passed out.

Prudhomme could hear Lovering groaning in his bedroom, but did not check on Lovering or call 911 for about 14 hours.

During that time, Lovering, who still had his legs tucked beneath him when the first police officer arrived, had lost circulation to his legs. A surgeon had to amputate both limbs the next day.

The state had asserted that Prudhomme used a string from one of Lovering's leather corsets to strangle Lovering, who had red marks on his neck when first responders arrived. According to testimony, Prudhomme gave the corset to Muskus, who took it to her apartment in Monroe.

k.florin@theday.com