Nicholas Hall's Bond Is Set At $2 Million

MARIETTA, OH — Nicholas John Francis Hall made his first Washington County court appearance today. He showed up in court with his attorney Jack Blakeslee. Judge Mark Kerenyi explained to Hall the charges he'd been indicted on and the penalties for each. He explained that if he was found guilty, and sentenced to serve time for all of these he could be looking at 176 to 264 years in prison. He could be looking at a $330,000 fine too.

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All of his charges were very similar. Inducing panic, a second-degree felony. They all carry an 8-12 year penalty. Here are his charges.

1. May 6, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Waterford High School.
2. May 7, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Waterford High School.
3. May 7, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Waterford Elementary School.
4. May 10, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Waterford High School.
5. May 10, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Waterford Elementary School.
6. May 10, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Fort Frye High School.
7. May 10, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Belpre Elementary School.
8. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Waterford High School.
9. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Fort Frye High School.
10. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Warren High School.
11. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Marietta Middle School.
12. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Beverly Elementary School.
13. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to St. Mary's Catholic School.
14. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Lowell Elementary School.
15. May 7, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Valley High School in Scioto County.
16. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Valley High School in Scioto County.
17. May 7, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Minersville High School in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
18. May 7, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Oak Hill High School in Jackson County.
19. May 6, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Upper Arlington High School in Franklin County.
20. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Trimble High School in Athens County.
21. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to Caldwell High School in Noble County.
22. May 11, 2021, making a false threat of a serious nature to North Union High School in Union County.

Hall said he understands the charges, penalties, and is pleading not guilty.

Prosecutor Nicole Coil asked the court to not lower bail. It had been set at $2,000,000 when there were just two counts of inducing panic. Coil brought up the sheer number of students in this county and others who were disturbed because of the bomb threats. "It's also important to note that not only were people inconvenienced, but they were generally alarmed, panicked, and traumatized by these bomb threats."

She said someone from her office went to one of the elementary schools that had to be evacuated, and they were able to speak firsthand with the students. "They were genuinely and understandably very scared about returning to school because of Mr. Hall's actions."

She argued that since Hall has no meaningful ties to the community he could be a flight risk. "While this was all done to allegedly get his girlfriend out of school, Mr. Hall is not from here and does not have any family or work ties to this community that I'm aware of." She also said when they searched his laptop his search history showed that he had looked up school shootings.

Hall's bond was maintained at $2,000,000.

He's due back in court on July 6 at 11:45 a.m. for a status hearing. He will have a pretrial hearing on July 18 at 9:00 a.m. His jury trial is set for August 10 at 9:00 a.m.

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