The alleged getaway car driver in the last of a series of convenience store robberies had his bail reduced Friday in Schuylkill County Court - but he will not go free even if he posts it.
Jose W. Nunez, 19, of Hazleton, remains behind bars in lieu of $25,000 percentage bail, which Judge John E. Domalakes reduced from $100,000 straight cash set on Feb. 6, the day of his arrest.
"He has rather tenuous ties to the community," Domalakes said in rejecting the request of Jeffrey M. Markosky, Mahanoy City, Nunez's lawyer, for unsecured bail.
However, even if Nunez posts $2,500, which is 10 percent of the $25,000 amount, he would not go free, but would be transferred to Carbon County, where he faces additional charges stemming from the chase that resulted in his capture.
Schuylkill County prosecutors have charged Nunez with carrying a firearm without a license.
Tamaqua police alleged Nunez drove the getaway car for Tysheed L. Hargrove, 18, of no fixed address, after the latter robbed Fegley's Minit Mart and Dunkin' Donuts on Feb. 5 in the borough.
Hargrove entered the store armed with a handgun, demanded cash and fled with money from the cash register, according to prosecutors.
After that robbery, police from several jurisdictions engaged Hargrove and Nunez in a high-speed chase for about 12 miles, from Tamaqua to Nesquehoning, before capturing them, prosecutors said.
In Carbon County, Nunez is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one each of fleeing or eluding police and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the same chase. His bail in that case is $500,000 straight cash.
At Friday's bail hearing before Domalakes, Nunez testified he would live with his mother, aunt and three cousins in Hazleton if he were released.
He said most of his family lives in New Jersey.