Shawn Mark Valloric, the Bellaire High School teacher and track coach charged with 10 felony counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, appears for his preliminary hearing with his attorney Steven Stickles on Thursday before Belmont County Eastern Division Court Judge David Trouten. (Photo by Shelley Hanson)

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Shawn Mark Valloric, the Bellaire High School teacher and track coach charged with 10 felony counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, will have his case bound over to the April Grand Jury in Belmont County Common Pleas Court.

Valloric, 49, of Bellaire appeared wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and shackles for his preliminary hearing on Thursday before Belmont County Eastern Division Court Judge David Trouten.

After hearing testimony from a detective on the case, Trouten ruled that exhibits presented by Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan on behalf of the state were enough to move the case forward to the Belmont County Common Pleas Court.

Valloric’s attorney, Steven Stickles, asked to have Valloric’s bond amount of $150,000 reduced to less than $100,000. He said Valloric’s elderly mother needs his help at home and that the family could better afford a lower bond amount to get him out of jail.

Flanagan said he believed the bond was set at the correct amount for the charges.

Trouten denied Stickles’ request, saying the bond amount would remain the same.

Valloric was arrested on Feb. 26 after Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack’s criminal investigation unit received information on that afternoon from the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children that Valloric was in possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Less than eight hours after the tip, Zusack’s unit investigated, gathered evidence and took Valloric into custody. He remains in the Belmont County Jail on a $150,000 bond.