NEW CUMBERLAND - Two students accused of plotting to bomb Weir High School will appear in court Friday for a preliminary hearing before Hancock County Magistrate Scott Hicks.

Mark Mentzer and Josh Little, both 19-year-old Weir High seniors, are charged with making terrorist threats after Weirton police traced anonymous text message threats back to Mentzer. Officers searched Mentzer's home and reportedly discovered weapons, bomb-making materials, a map of the high school and racist writings.

Mentzer also faces felony charges of nighttime burglary, prohibiting civil rights and possessing explosive materials; along with a misdemeanor charge of disrupting a school assembly. In addition to the charge of making terrorist threats, Little is charged on misdemeanor counts of disrupting a school assembly and disorderly conduct.

Hancock County Prosecutor James Davis Jr. said Tuesday he is confident there is enough evidence for the cases against the pair to be bound over to a grand jury.

Davis said the charge of making terrorist threats carries a one to three-year prison sentence, along with a $5,000 to $25,000 fine; nighttime burglary, one to 15 years; prohibiting civil rights, a maximum of 10 years with a fine of up to $5,000; and possessing explosive materials, one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

That means, if convicted on all charges, Mentzer faces two to 38 years in jail, while Little would serve one to three years. Davis noted that under West Virginia law, the two could, if convicted, be sentenced as youthful offenders.

Under that provision, offenders under the age of 23 can be sentenced to the Anthony Correctional Center in Greenbrier County for a period of six months to two years. After completing all program requirements, the offender then goes before the sentencing judge, who decides whether to impose the original sentence or up to five years' probation, Davis said.

Both Mentzer and Little remain in the Northern Regional Jail. Mentzer is being held on $100,000 bond, while Little's bond was set at $22,600. Steubenville NAACP President Royal Mayo said Monday he believes those amounts are too lenient in light of the crimes allegedly committed.

However, Davis said he is satisfied with the bond at this time, noting the purpose of bond is to ensure that defendants will appear in court as well as provide for public safety.

"(Bond is) always a debatable thing. They can't make it, so they're still in custody," he said of Mentzer and Little.

When Mentzer and Little were arraigned Friday, Davis added, defense counsel requested a bond reduction on the original nighttime burglary charge against Mentzer, which Davis said he opposed. Mentzer's bond originally was set at $25,000, but was raised after the additional charges were filed.