Bond was set at $15,000 in Marion County Court on Tuesday when a 36-year-old homeless Salem man was charged with a Class Four felony of unlawful loitering within 500 feet of a school.
Jason Belman was reportedly staying inside a car parked on East Boone Street when Salem Police noticed the vehicle while patrolling in the area of Salem Community High School on Monday morning.
Public Defender Craig Griffin argued against the $50,000 bond recommended by prosecutors, noting in part that Belman was not trying to engage with anyone while in the vehicle that just so happened to be parked near the high school. He asked for a bond of $5,000 and noted Belman was already out on bond on a Clinton County aggravated battery case. Judge Mark Stedelin then set the bond at $15,000.
Belman had a public defender appointed to represent him. A preliminary hearing was set for May 10th.
