photo by: Gage Vota

Holloway Mayor Joseph Schaeffer appears in Belmont County Western Division Court on charges of inducing panic and aggravated menacing after he allegedly made threats against the county courthouse.

Holloway Mayor Joseph Schaeffer appeared in Belmont County Western Division Court on Tuesday to face charges of inducing panic and aggravated menacing, the proceeding was continued until April 1.

Acting Judge Robert Quirk, filling in for Western Division Judge Eric Costine, decided to continue the case until 8:30 a.m. April 1. Costine was absent from the courtroom due to the recent death of his father, John O. Costine. Western Division Prosecutor Joseph Vavra also was absent Tuesday, with Eastern Division Prosecutor Joshua Norman taking his place.

Schaeffer was arrested in February after Belmont County Auditor Cindi Henry said Schaeffer called her office at the courthouse on Feb. 6 about a property tax issue and, during that conversation, allegedly said he was going to bring a bomb to the courthouse.

Although he was arrested for his alleged comments, Schaeffer insisted that he did not make any threats toward any individuals or the courthouse.

According to the Belmont County Board of Elections website, Schaeffer was elected mayor of Holloway in November 2023 and took office Jan. 1, 2024.

In a previous interview, Schaeffer said when the deputies arrived at his home, he was under the impression that they were there on business related to his role as mayor of the village. Instead, he said, they asked him to put his hands behind his back and took him into custody.

Norman informed Quirk Tuesday that he had body camera footage of the arrest as well as from an officer who was on the scene at the Belmont County Courthouse. Norman added that he doesn’t believe that any footage of the initial alleged threat exists. That prompted Quirk to ask him if it has been investigated whether footage of the alleged threat exists.

Norman then requested that the case be continued. Quirk asked Schaeffer’s attorney, Brandon Lippert, if that was a joint request. Lippert said that it was.

Schaeffer, charged with misdemeanor inducing panic and aggravated menacing, remains free on bond.