18 year old ​​Larry Allen Harvey pleads not guilty by reason of insanity after being arrested for allegedly making bomb threats to eight St. Clairsville area businesses.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The 18-year-old accused of calling in bomb threats to several Belmont County businesses pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Monday.

Larry Allen Harvey faces five counts of a third-degree felony, terroristic threats, and four counts of a fourth-degree felony, inducing panic.

For each count of making terroristic threats, the maximum penalty is 36 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. Each inducing panic charge carries a maximum of 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Harvey is accused of threatening to detonate bombs at Walmart, Sheetz, Kroger, Whiteside Auto, Unified Bank, Texas Roadhouse, Denny’s and Red Roof Inn in St. Clairsville last month.

Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller entered the plea on Harvey’s behalf.

“Because of the plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, the first thing we have to do is arrange for you to be assessed by the officials at Forensic District Nine. So there’s no use setting the hearing schedule until we get the result of the assessment, and then, based on that result, further consider the plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. So we’re not going to announce any future schedule,” Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra said. “Also, Mr. Miller, it will be the court’s intention to remand him presently with no bond, so that we can arrange for the assessment process. And then, of course, we would reconsider his bond status depending upon the result of that assessment, any comments or objections.”

Miller said he planned to request bond due to Harvey’s age.

“I was going to ask for a bond to be set in this case, given his age and the circumstances of being incarcerated, that he be released on his own recognizance, or the standard bond be issued in this case with an additional condition that he submit himself for therapeutic treatment at Southeast [South East Health Care],” Miller said. “I have done some investigation in this case into his background, and that may be very beneficial not only to him but also to the defense in the preparation of his case.”

Vavra asked if Harvey was a local resident, and Miller said he is and can provide his address.

Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Joshua Norman said Harvey does not have a permanent residence and is currently living in a hotel.

“Bond initially issued in the county court was a $1 million bond. It was dismissed. From reviewing this, it appears that Mr. Harvey was moving from hotel to hotel,” Norman said. “Given that, I don’t know if we have a firm address for him. I think an own-recognizance bond is, in my opinion, out of the question. If the court did issue the standard court bond, I would be okay with that, as well as the requirement that he undergo evaluation and mental health assessment.”

Vavra ruled that Harvey will be held with no bond.

“I’m going to go along with my original thoughts. He is going to be remanded with no bond because of the plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Again, I think it will expedite the assessment process. They can assess him virtually,” Vavra said. “I believe it will greatly improve the turnaround time on these things, but I will retain jurisdiction to reconsider his bond status again once that issue is resolved.”

Vavra added that he plans to have the assessment completed as soon as possible.