Man accused of abducting Virginia woman is held without bail in Texas

A man wanted in the case of a missing University of Virginia sophomore briefly appeared in a Texas court on Thursday morning and was ordered held without bond while he awaits extradition, officials said.

Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr., 32, appeared briefly via video link before a Galveston County judge to hear the charges on which he was arrested Wednesday, a Galveston County deputy sheriff told the Los Angeles Times. Matthew is charged with a fugitive count and with giving false information to an officer.

Judge Mark Henry set bond at $1,500 on the false information charge but held Matthew without bond on the fugitive count.

Matthew is wanted in connection with the disappearance of Hannah Graham, 18, a sophomore who went missing on Sept. 13 in Charlottesville, Va. Virginia police this week announced they had probable cause to arrest Matthew on a charge of abduction with intent to defile.

Matthew fled but was arrested in the sparsely populated community of Gilchrist, Texas. Police received a call reporting a suspicious person and a deputy found a man who had pitched a tent on the beach with his car parked nearby, the Galveston County Daily News reported.

In his court appearance, Matthew wore a dark green jumpsuit and handcuffs. Matthew asked the judge a few short questions and expressed concern that his clothes were taken from him when he was booked into the Galveston County jail. “I should be able to have some kind of clothing,” he said.

Henry told him that his jumpsuit was sufficient clothing and that his personal items would be returned later.

After the court session, Henry told KPRC-TV that he expected Matthew would be extradited to Virginia in a day or two.

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