MARIETTA – Bond was set at $100,000 Wednesday for a Belpre man who allegedly posted pornographic images of a 15-year-old girl online, accompanied by text that refers to violence and murder against the child.

Andrew L. Barber, 42, of 905 Braun Road was arrested Feb. 4 at his home by deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office who began an investigation after receiving a tip that the images and text were being posted on a social media site.

Barber was arrested on a second-degree felony charge of pandering obscenity involving a minor.

Following his arrest Barber was initially taken to the Washington County Jail, but was later sent to the Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare Hospital in Athens for evaluation. He was released from the facility on Wednesday and was arraigned in Marietta Municipal Court.

Barber sat quietly and only responded “yes” when Judge Janet Dyar Welch asked if he wanted to waive his right to a preliminary hearing.

“You will be bound over to Common Pleas Court,” Welch said.

The judge also noted bond had not been set after Barber’s arrest because he had been taken to the hospital in Athens before a hearing could be held.

She asked Washington County Assistant Prosecutors Harrison Crumrine and Kevin Rings what bond amount would be recommended.

“The state requests a $500,000 bond,” Crumrine said.

Defense attorney Ray Smith objected.

“The allegation is related to a photographic image posted online, although that image was of a minor,” he said. “But (Barber) has no prior record and we would ask for a more reasonable bond of $35,000.”

But Crumrine said the state had good reason to ask for the higher bond amount.

“The state feels he’s a threat to other potential victims,” he said. “We have an ongoing investigation that indicates there may be other victims.”

Rings noted other concerns, too.

“In addition to the images posted, there was text with words that were extremely threatening and violent,” he said.

Rings said the prosecution had an online photo of a 15-year-old girl accompanied by threatening text, from which the prosecutor quoted.

“This little 15-year-old thought I was some innocent 16-year-old boy from her school,” Rings read, adding that the text also said the girl’s parents would be out one night and then return home “to find their daughter naked, raped and dead.”

He said it was that type of text that had the state concerned for the safety of the girl as well as for other possible victims.

“Bond is set at $100,000, plus personal recognizance bond and the defendant shall have no contact with anyone under the age of 18,” Welch said.

Barber was returned to the county jail. He will face possible indictment by a Washington County grand jury later this month.

A second-degree felony charge carries a maximum two to eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine.