High bond kept for alleged blackmailer; case headed toward trial
A Butler man accused of blackmailing young girls for nude photographs will remain in Butler County Prison with a bond in the triple digits.
District Judge Joseph Nash denied a request for bond reduction for Devin S. Cupps, 19, maintaining it at $100,000.
Cupps is charged with multiple felonies, including five counts of corruption of minors, five counts of child pornography, five counts of unlawful contact with minors and five counts of distribution of sexual material.
Cupps had a number of family members supporting him Wednesday at a preliminary hearing, which he waived.
Still his attorney, Justin Ketschel, called on his mother to speak before Nash as he asked for the bond to be reduced to home monitoring.
Cupps’ mother said her son could stay at her home. She said her son has a job and no criminal record before this case. She also agreed to restrict his access to the internet and phones, if the request was granted.
According to charges, Cupps is accused of using Snapchat in the alleged act of blackmailing multiple girls.
Three of Cupps’ accusers met him through the Jesus Alive and Living youth ministry program at All Saints Parish in Butler which meets regularly at St. Conrad Catholic Church in Meridian.
Assistant District Attorney David Beichner opposed reducing the bail, citing the number of accusers among other concerns.
“These are very serious offenses,” Beichner said.
Cupps is scheduled to appear next for formal arraignment Aug. 23 in Butler County Common Pleas Court.
