A Common Pleas Court Judge denied a bond reduction request Friday for an Erie man charged with stalking a woman while she was working at a Harmony business.

Judge Joseph Kubit denied the motion from the attorney representing Preston C. Edmands, 41, who is being held in the county prison in lieu of $45,000 bail while facing misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, stalking, disorderly conduct and simple assault, and a summary count of harassment.

Attorney Max Roesch argued that Edmands had been receiving treatment from a team consisting of a psychiatrist, therapist and doctor in Erie to treat his bipolar disorder and other issues.

He has been getting help from a therapist while he has been in custody, but it is not the same as comprehensive treatment he was receiving, Roesch said.

In addition, he said Edmands was recently diagnosed with a kidney disorder that impacts his mental health issues when it flares up.

Roesch asked for Edmands to be released on his own recognizance or on an unsecured bail so he can be treated in Erie and that he receive a mental health evaluation. He said Edmands has already been banned from the business where the alleged incident took place.

Edmands attended the hearing remotely from the prison, but did not speak.

Assistant district attorney Zoe Kecskemethy opposed the motion, saying there is a high risk of Edmands returning to the business and the woman is afraid. She agreed with the request for a mental health evaluation.

Kubit cited the affidavit filed by Zelienople police, which alleges that Edmands went to the business several times and the remarks he made to the woman left her in fear for her safety. He denied the bond reduction, but granted the mental health evaluation.

In the affidavit, police said they responded to the business March 28 for a report of a man causing a disturbance and found the woman crying, shaking and having difficulty breathing.

She told police Edmands had visited the business at least three times that day and attempted to walk behind the counter the last time he was there. She said Edmands made multiple comments to her about “getting more comfortable upstairs” and grabbed her wrist forcefully, police said.

The woman told police Edmands told her she had to leave Harmony, had four days to “shape up,” and he would be back in two days to see her nude, according to the affidavit.

Police said Edmands visited the business again about 10 minutes after they left, and the woman locked the door and called 911.