T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Belmont County public defender Aaron Miller makes a motion for Larry Allen Harvey, appearing via video, to be released from the Belmont County jail on a recognizance bond.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A Belmont County judge on Monday refused to reduce bond or release an 18-year-old St. Clairsville man accused of making multiple bomb threats to local businesses after prosecutors and defense attorneys debated whether he has a stable place to live and whether a letter he sent to the court amounted to an admission of guilt.

Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra denied a motion for Larry Allen Harvey to be released from the Belmont County jail on a recognizance bond Monday afternoon.

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

The 18-year-old 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 this past spring.

He has been sitting in the jail on a $50,000 bond, but Monday his public defender Aaron Miller made a motion asking for him to be released on a recognizance bond.

“The court would be remiss also if I didn’t mention that Mr. Harvey, on his own, sent a correspondence to the court last week, which could be considered as a confession, or at least an admission of wrongdoing, so that kind of interferes with that presumption of innocence,” Vavra said. “This puzzles me but it is your motion, so how would you like to proceed?”

Miller replied that it is his understanding that the state will not oppose a recognizance bond for Harvey as long as he can provide the court with an address that he will be living at.

Vavra asked Harvey what his residence is.

Harvey informed Vavra that he resides at the Red Roof Inn, which Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Joshua Norman said gives him concern.

He said that the Red Roof Inn was one of the several businesses that Harvey made bomb threats to.

“It gives me some concern, because there was a call placed to the Red Roof Inn that is one of the calls that resulted in a charge here, and I don’t know if that is a long-term stable address for Mr. Harvey,” Norman said. “I would be fine with this if there was some actual apartment, an extended stay place, or a house like that, because we could ensure he was there, he could report to probation but that’s more of a short-term type of place.”

Vavra asked Harvey if anyone else lives in the hotel with him who has any long-term connection to Belmont County.

“I believe so, your honor. They have lived in various places for short periods of time, but this has been a stable residence as to where they’re residing,” Miller said. “Obviously, if there’s movement from that location to another location, it would be upon Mr. Harvey to advise the court as to where he’s residing.”

He added that if Harvey didn’t notify the court of moving to a new location, a new felony charge would occur as a result of that.

“It would be in his best interest if he moves to inform everyone, just like he’s supposed to, so that he doesn’t miss supervision appointments, and he is here for his court days,” Miller said. “Because I’m sure that the state would file that charge if he fails to appear in court.”

After deliberating, Vavra informed both Miller and Norman that he does not feel he can accept Miller’s motion to release Harvey on a recognizance bond.

“I just can’t do this, gentlemen. Despite Mr. Miller’s arguments, this defendant has written a letter and sent it to the court admitting, in essence, his guilt,” Vavra said. “I’m going to overrule the motion. He’ll remain in jail on the same bond and bond conditions.”