Bond was set at $5 million Wednesday for convicted child rapist Daniel Keck, after he requested his 70-year sentence be postponed and he be let out of jail to focus on his appeal.

Keck, 43, was sentenced in October on 29 child sex crimes after a trial and investigation that began when a boy came forward last January and said he had been abused. Five victims testified against Keck during his trial and a search of his Marietta home turned up video and photographic evidence of abuse against young boys.

At a hearing Wednesday, Washington County Common Pleas Judge Ed Lane granted bond but set it at the amount requested by the prosecution. Keck's attorney requested a $500,000 bond, the same amount used prior to his trial.

"The $500,000 was when he believed he would be acquitted and had no reason to run," said Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Rings. "Now for all intents and purposes he has a life sentence... and is a significantly higher flight risk."

Keck did not attend Wednesday's hearing, although his parents and girlfriend did.

Keck's attorney, Nick Graman, argued that if Keck had wanted to flee he'd had plenty of opportunity while out on bond before his trial.

"Based on the fact that he's never failed to appear and his strong ties to the community, he is not a flight risk," Graman said. "He had full and ample opportunity to do that prior to the trial."

If Keck is able to post bond, he would have GPS monitoring at all times, be allowed no contact with victims or their family members, be allowed no access to computers at any time and be allowed no travel outside of Washington County with the exception of visiting his attorney's office in Warren County.

Rings said he is confident that with such a high bond, if Keck posts it he would have so much tied up in the bond he would likely not have the finances for an escape or coercion of any witnesses.

Following Wednesday's hearing, Keck also has the option to postpone the forfeiture of his 407 Edgewood Drive home to the state.

Lane had previously ruled that the home was used as a tool for the abuse, since Keck set it up as playhouse of sorts for children, and should be forfeited. Keck's attorneys argued that he should be able to use any financial benefit from the home to fund his appeal.

Keck now has the option for a stay on the forfeiture, provided he either posts a bond in the amount of the fair market value of the home, which is $89,090, or adds the Washington County Prosecutor's Office and Marietta Police Department as the primary insurers for the property.

"We want to assure that during the appeal our interest in the property doesn't lose value," said Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Alison Cauthorn. "We want to make sure it's not mysteriously set fire to - we've had that happen before."