Jail escapee Michael Burham was denied bail at last week’s preliminary arraignment because he told the court he would escape again.

Burham, currently being held in the Erie County Prison, was arraigned by District Judge Raymond Zydonik on the escape charge last Monday. Bail was denied there because, according to online court records, Burham “is a flight risk, escaped and stated he would escape again.”

A preliminary hearing in that case had been scheduled for July 26 but was continued. The case centered around Burham’s recent escape from the Warren County Jail and the kidnapping charges stemming from his first time on the run will now be heard at the same time – Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. Bail was revoked on the kidnapping charges at the time it was denied on the escape docket.

The state Attorney General’s office is now listed as the prosecutor on the escape charge. While he will remain the prosecutor on the kidnapping charges, Warren County District Attorney Rob Greene said last week that he asked the state Attorney General to prosecute the escape case. Greene said the move was made to show there is no impropriety and is an “appropriate decision.”

The Warren County District Attorney’s office refers five to 10 cases per year to the Attorney General due to varying conflicts.

Burham was apprehended in the wake of a citizen tip on July 15 on a federal detainer. Greene said last week is “not aware” of any federal charges and explained that he assumes it will be similar to when Burham was picked up in South Carolina in that once Burham was returned to the area the federal detainer was released.

Burham is the prime suspect in the May 11 shooting death of 34-year-old Kala Hodgkin inside her William Street home in Jamestown. He is also accused of setting fire to another woman’s car in Jamestown.

More than a week after Hodgkin’s death, Burham allegedly kidnapped a Warren County couple from their Sheffield home at gunpoint. Using their vehicle, he drove the pair to South Carolina. The couple was found safe, and Burham was eventually taken into custody after eluding police for days by running through the woods. In June, he was extradited back to New York state where he went before a federal judge in Buffalo.

Burham had been moved to Warren County on June 19. He was arraigned before District Judge Raymond Zydonik on three first-degree felonies — two counts of kidnapping and one of burglary; five other felonies — two counts of aggravated assault and one each of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and criminal trespass; 15 misdemeanors; and three summary counts.