HILTON, N.Y. — Bail for Kirk Ashton, the former principal of Northwood Elementary School in the Hilton Central School District accused of sexually abusing students, was reduced by a Monroe County judge Friday afternoon.

Friday also marked the fifth bail application hearing for Ashton since his arrest in April. That month he was indicted on multiple counts of sexual abuse and child endangerment, according to prosecutors. He pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Ashton is asking for reduced bail and to be moved from a Niagara County facility.

“We believe he is a significant flight risk, so that’s why we asked that bail remain in the amount of $250,000 cash,” said Amanda Balling, the Monroe County assistant district attorney.

Prosecutors say there is community outrage over Ashton’s alleged actions, and says there are 26 alleged victims in four indictments.

The DA’s office noted his significant financial assets, and says Ashton is still collecting $160,000 in salary from the Hilton Central School District.

“The issue that we’re having here is there’s a claimed $600,000 asset, which I tried to explain to the court that there is a legal impossibility of withdrawing upon that right now,” said James Housel, Ashton’s defense attorney. “He’s still employed at the school district so he cannot draw upon it, and in addition to that, is he’s married and there’s a divorce proceeding going on.”

The defense attorney says in order for Ashton to touch the $600,000 in retirement funds, he would have to resign or be fired, and his wife would have to approve it through a court order.

“That money is not going anywhere and legally it can’t,” said Housel. “That’s what we were trying to stress to the judge, is he’s been incarcerated in excess of three months with substantial bail. If this was in fact true that he had all these assets, then he clearly would not be in custody.”

Ashton's attorney also mentioned New York’s bail reform law in his argument, and said the former principal has $20,000 available in cash for bail.

After a brief recess, the judge reduced the cash bail to $175,000, but neither side was happy.

“We were hoping for more of a reduction,” Housel said. “I don’t know. I doubt that the $175,000 is going to be met, but it is lower than before, so that’s something him and his matrimonial counsel can work on.”

“It’s still a significant amount of money and I hope it will ensure that if Mr. Ashton does post bail, that he’ll return to court,” Balling said.

If bail is posted, Ashton would be released on electronic home monitoring.

The judge says he would have to surrender his passport and cannot visit his office or Hilton Central School District buildings.