COVINGTON — Accused child molester Larry Eugene Howell will likely face additional charges soon, authorities said Monday.

        The 40-year-old Erlanger man is to be arraigned on nine sodomy charges — some involving boys under 14 — this morning in Kenton District Court. Mr. Howell's arraignment was continued because his attorney had a scheduling conflict Monday, authorities said.

        Kenton District Judge Martin Sheehan said he raised Mr. Howell's bond to $250,000 straight cash Friday because of concerns that he was a flight risk.

        After an angry Covington mother shot Mr. Howell in the groin and the side on Nov. 29, the accused child molester spent eight days in University Hospital. There, authorities had to handcuff him to his bed after a hospital staffer reported overhearing Mr. Howell saying he “wasn't going to stick around” for more charges to be filed.

        “I thought that increased his risk of flight,” Judge Sheehan said Monday. The judge raised Mr. Howell's bond on Friday night after he was extradited from Hamilton County.

        Lt. Col. Marc Fields of Erlanger police said authorities will likely present additional charges against Mr. Howell directly to the Kenton County grand jury in January.

        The investigation into Mr. Howell escalated after he was picked up Nov. 27 on charges of trafficking in marijuana within 1,000 yards of a school and possession of child pornography. He was released a day later when he posted $1,000 cash bond.

        Mr. Howell's accused assailant, whom the Enquirer is not identifying to protect her child, claims she shot Mr. Howell after her 13-year-old son told her that the family acquaintance had molested him.

        Col. Fields confirmed Monday that the woman's son is among Mr. Howell's alleged victims. He said that “close to 30” boys have come forward since Mr. Howell was shot to say that they had sexual contact with him.

        Mr. Howell's alleged victims, ranging in age from 10 to 16, are from Kenton, Campbell, Boone and Hamilton counties, Col Fields said.

        David Bender, Mr. Howell's attorney, could not be reached for comment Monday.

        Once the felony charges were filed against Mr. Howell on Dec. 4, Judge Sheehan raised his bond to $10,000 on the pornography possession and another judge added $100,000 for the sodomy charges.

        Since Friday night, Mr. Howell has been in Kenton County Detention Center's medical isolation cell.

        Some in the community have come to the mother's defense, posting her $10,000 bond.

        Kathy Miller-Cox, sexual abuse treatment director for the Family Nurturing Center, said her agency has counseled six possible victims and has been fielding daily calls from worried parents since Mr. Howell's arrest.

        Ms. Miller-Cox expects to see more participants when the next group counseling session for 4- to 14-year-old victims of sexual abuse and their caregivers begins on Jan. 14.

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