Judge denies alleged swindler bail

WORCESTER, Mass. (WPRI/AP) - A judge has denied a request to lower the bail of a fundraiser accused of bilking a Massachusetts Catholic school out of $370,000.

Michael Hlady, of Smithfield, has been held on $250,000 bail since pleading not guilty on April 1 to a charge of larceny by false pretense.

The Telegram & Gazette reports that his lawyer, Vincent Ricciardi, asked a Superior Court judge on Monday to reduce bail to $25,000, because his client's marriage has been under stress since his arrest and the current bail was "punishing alleged misconduct."

Prosecutors argued that Hlady could not be trusted to return to court if released.

Authorities say Hlady was paid $370,000 to raise money for Venerini Academy in Worcester , then created a fictitious donor who promised the school $3 million.