The Hollidaysburg area man who was sentenced more than two years ago to serve 15 months behind bars for making threatening phone calls to several area schools is now back in prison on theft charges.

According to a petition filed by the attorney for Javier Alberto Cantos Jr., 26, he faces three sets of charges for theft by unlawful taking and is in prison awaiting trial.

His total bail on the charges is $105,000 cash.

Attorney Kristen L. Anastasi of Hollidaysburg has filed a petition to modify the bail to $105,000 unsecured so he can get out of prison and resume working.

The Anastasi petition points out Cantos has served more than 485 days on three sets of charges, all of which allegedly occurred on April 7, 2022.

During that time Cantos has undergone a mental health evaluation.

The prosecution now has asked that it be permitted to undertake its own psychiatric review.

According to Anastasi, the question of Cantos’ mental health competency is keeping him from going to trial.

She argues in her petition filed recently with the Blair County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts that “such bail was set in a way to penalize (Cantos), considering the nonviolent, weaponless charges, rather than ensure his appearance at future court proceedings.

Anastasi is asking that Cantos be released pending trial but that he be subject to pretrial bail conditions including regular reporting to the probation office and random drug testing.

Blair County Judge Wade A. Kagarise will hear the defense petition Thursday morning.

Cantos was arrested four years ago on five counts of terroristic threats and five counts of risking a catastrophe for leaving threatening messages on phones located in the Hollidaysburg Area High School, the Junior High School and three elementary schools.

Police first arrested a former graduate student at Hollidaysburg Area High School who was working on his masters degree.

The student became a suspect when his voice was identified by administrators as the alleged caller.

However, Cantos, arrested on a separate charge while the threats were under investigation, admitted he was the person who made the threatening calls.

Blair County President Judge Elizabeth A. Doyle sentenced him to a prison term of 15 months to five years, stating she hoped programs in a state correctional institution would benefit him.