Bail Upheld for Man Accused of Threatening to Shoot Home Depot Employees

A judge this week denied lowering the bail for a Union County man accused of threatening to shoot Home Depot employees who confronted him for stealing more than $300 in batteries from the Watchung store, authorities said.

Brian Belles, 45, of Roselle Park, is being held at the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. His bail had been lowered in May from $100,000.

Judge Robert Reed on Monday said the bail amount was "entirely reasonable" considering the severity of the charges and Belles' prior record, according to NJ.com.

Belles was charged in September 2012 with first-degree robbery after stealing about $360 in batteries from Home Depot, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said.

Belles resisted when a loss prevention officer confronted him outside the store, the prosecutor's office said. As other employees assisted in restraining him, Belles threatened to shoot them, the prosecutor's office said.

Police officers placed Belles under arrest, but no weapon was found, the prosecutor's office said.

Belles, representing himself, was denied in July having the charges dismissed, NJ.com reported.