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GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A judge refused to set bail for a teenager who stabbed 20 fellow students and a security guard at his high school, meaning the teen will remain jailed.
Alex Hribal was 16 years old when he went on the rampage at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville on April 9, 2014.
Hribal is charged as an adult with 20 counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault plus a school weapons charge. He had been housed in a juvenile detention center until he turned 18 on Oct. 1, when the law required him to be transferred to the Westmoreland County Prison.
Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey sought to have Hribal released on bond at a hearing Monday before Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani.
Thomassey wanted Hribal to be able to post bail so he could be released to his parents until he stands trial or is able to persuade a judge to move the case to juvenile court.
But the judge refused, ruling there was no adequate way to ensure public safety should Hribal be released, even with conditions for house arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.
Thomassey acknowledges Hribal committed the rampage using two 8-inch kitchen knives he sneaked into school that morning. But he has argued Hribal is mentally ill and would be better served in a juvenile detention setting where he could receive more frequent and intensive psychiatric help.
District Attorney John Peck has argued against moving the case to juvenile court, where Hribal could be supervised or incarcerated only until he's 21. If Hribal winds up being tried as an adult, he likely would face decades in prison if convicted.
Thomassey said he was disappointed in the judge's refusal to grant bail.
"I think (Hribal) can get better treatment and more intensive treatment if he's out of jail," he said.
The hearing to determine whether Hribal's case will be moved to juvenile court began in June and is scheduled to continue Nov. 24, Thomassey said.
All 20 stabbing victims recovered, though some have suffered lingering physical and emotional trauma.
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