Gambian-born U.S.-based singer Sailou Mballow, known professionally as Aya, appeared via video from custody Thursday morning in Winnebago County Circuit Court for further proceedings in his ongoing criminal case.
Mballow, 28, faces charges including attempted arson of a building and criminal damage to property stemming from a July incident in which authorities say he set a vehicle on fire amid domestic difficulties with his wife and expressed a desire to end his life. He retained attorney Gerardo Antonio De Los Santos Jr. only the day before the hearing.
Both the defendant and his newly retained counsel appeared by video, while Assistant District Attorney Antonio Prekop represented the State of Wisconsin in person before Judge Eric R. Heywood.
During the brief session that began at approximately 9:07 a.m., defense counsel requested a waiver of statutory time limits—agreed to by the defendant—and a new preliminary hearing date. The court confirmed the State’s compliance with Marsy’s Law victim-rights provisions and closed the record. A preliminary hearing was then scheduled for August 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
Mballow requested to remain in jail without bond and declined release. Citing mental-health concerns, the court raised his bond from $5,000 to $10,000. He is awaiting a state-ordered mental-health evaluation, with indications that competency issues related to his mental state may affect his ability to proceed to trial.
The court authorized limited contact: Mballow may communicate with his wife by text message only. He is prohibited from any verbal communication with his child.
A related request to appear by Zoom and a motion to postpone the preliminary hearing had been routed to the judge’s office. Mballow remains in custody pending further proceedings and the mental-health assessment.
