A judge on Friday decided not to change the $250,000 bail for a Saxonburg man accused of helping burn a 7-year-old boy.

A defense attorney for defendant Edward B. Myers, 35, asked that his bail be lowered, claiming Myers is not a risk to run from prosecution or commit other crimes while awaiting trial.

But a prosecutor, detailing some of the allegations and calling the alleged crimes an “intentional and calculated torture of a 7-year-old child,” asked that Myers’ bail be increased to $500,000.

Butler County Judge William Shaffer sided with neither, declining to change the bail “without prejudice,” which means it could be changed later.

According to court records, Myers had been supervising the boy who is the son of his then-girlfriend as well as his own two sons when the alleged assault occurred on May 25.

Myers and his sons, ages 11 and 15, allegedly shot airsoft and pellet guns at the 7-year-old’s forehead. Myers later poured nail polish remover over him, police said. The boy claims his shirt was then intentionally lit on fire by either Myers or the 15-year-old.

The victim suffered third-degree burns on his chin, neck, chest and face, covering about 10 percent of his body, documents said. He also had welts on his forehead.

Police said Myers did not seek medical help for the boy.

Prosecutors allege the boy suffered in pain until his mother, Laure Halliwell of Saxonburg, returned home, saw the injuries and took him to the hospital.

Myers is charged with aggravated assault, attempted simple assault, reckless endangerment, and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. His preliminary hearing is set for July 30 before District Judge Lewis Stoughton in Chicora.

Myers’ 15-year-old son faces similar assault-related charges in county juvenile court.

Myers has been jailed since July 10 when Saxonburg police arrested him in connection with the attack at his mobile home on Carol Drive.

Although Myers did not testify during Friday’s hearing, his mother, Carol Myers of Saxonburg, did and she told the judge that her son has no income, vehicle or passport.

Therefore, Myers’ attorney Jerry Cassady argued that Myers had no means to flee the community.

Myers, who was last employed as a mechanic for a Cranberry Township automobile dealer, hasn’t worked in years because he has back problems that have previously required surgery. He also suffers from depression, and he has custody of his sons who “both have special needs,” Carol Myers said.

Further, Carol Myers’ said her son would not leave this area because “he has a close relationship with his family and his children.”

She cried while testifying and while Cassady argued on behalf her son’s release.

But Assistant District Attorney Richard Bosco was emphatic, stressing specific details of the crime and calling Myers an “obvious danger to the community, children and himself.”