A jailed 61-year-old Butler man's appeal for a bond reduction was denied Thursday in a case in which he allegedly “nudged” his roommate's nose and threatened to stab her with a screwdriver.

Wayne Edwards Sr. remains in Butler County Prison on a $10,000 bond for misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats and simple assault for the alleged incident on Dec. 2. But on Thursday, his lawyer, public defender Charles Nedz, asked Judge Timothy McCune for a bond reduction.

Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon opposed the request, noting Edwards has a criminal history dating back to the mid-1990s.

“He's a risk to society,” Simon said, addressing concerns raised by Assistant District Attorney Laura Pitchford.

Pitchford is prosecuting the case, but was unable to attend Thursday's hearing.

Nedz argued Edwards wouldn't live anywhere near the victim and would attend anger management classes.

During a preliminary hearing last month, the victim said she was Edwards' roommate at the time and testified she felt scared by her encounter with him.

“He said he was going to stab me in the head with the screwdriver,” the 63-year-old alleged victim told the court. She was not injured in the incident.

According to the victim, Edwards was being “disruptive” on the evening of the incident, adding he was “calling me names.”

The victim further testified Edwards warned her that if she went to sleep that she wouldn't wake up and told her he was going to “punch me in the skull with the screwdriver.”

Edwards was not holding a screwdriver when he made the alleged threat, according to the woman. The only physical contact he made was the alleged “nudge” to her nose and side of her face, but she did find a screwdriver on Edwards' bed.

Police responding to the scene said they found the defendant “highly intoxicated” in a bedroom at the North Elm Street apartment, according to court documents.

Edwards' formal arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 11.