A judge on Tuesday refused to set bail for a 19-year-old St. Joseph man accused of setting off a bomb on the front porch of a St Joe home last month. Edward Catron is charged with knowingly burning or exploding, a class-e felony for allegedly detonating an improvised explosive device at 2402 NE Parkway on May 29.

Damage was in the tens of thousands of dollars, though no one was injured.

Catron was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Tuesday, which was waived by his lawyer. Defense attorney Andrew Parmenter also asked the court to set bail, which has been denied up to now.

Parmenter pointed out that the Catron has no felony convictions and is not a flight risk. Parmenter said his client is willing to submit to electronic monitoring or house arrest if ordered.

But Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins opposed the motion, pointing out that investigators found evidence of drug use in the defendant’s house, as well as explosive materials, a recipe for a bomb, firearms and live ammunition. Scroggins said the only indication of motive they’ve found was retaliation, for what Scroggins called a “fairly innocuous” occurrence a few weeks earlier, between Catron and one of the residents of the house.

“We’re not talking about fireworks,” Scroggins said. “This was a legitimate explosive device.” Scroggins said this was not a random act, but an intentional response to the earlier incident.” Scroggins asked Associate Circuit Judge Keith Marquart deny the request to set bail.

Marquart agreed, calling it a “totally inappropriate, outrageous reaction.” Judge Marquart ruled that Catron continues to present a danger to the victims and the community, and denied bail. Catron remains in custody awaiting formal arraignment in Circuit Court before Judge Daniel Kellogg June 22 at 8:30 am.