WINFIELD, W.Va. — Bail will stay at a half-million dollars for a Putnam County man charged in the death of his five-week-old son after a circuit judge denied a reduction Wednesday.
The attorney for Jeremy Smith, 33, of Hurricane, asked Judge Joe Reeder to lower his client’s bail to $10,000 and place him on home confinement but the judge said the charges against Smith are serious and $500,000 was not unreasonable.
Prosecutors allege Smith abused his son, causing his death. An assistant prosecutor argued Wednesday the case is neither about neglect nor about an accidental death.
A psychiatric evaluation concluded Smith is competent to stand trial. He remains in the Western Regional Jail and could be indicted this fall.