Bond reduced for man accused of threatening Raleigh mayor

District Judge Ned Mangum set bond at $75,000 for Alec Dane Redner, who was arrested Jan. 15 after he allegedly sent Mayor Nancy McFarlane a message through her website in which he told her to "watch out" and that she would "soon" be "on the other end of the barrel."

Redner, who was still in jail late Monday afternoon, would also be on electronic house arrest at his parents' home as a condition of his pre-trial release, Mangum ordered.

The 27-year-old construction worker had been jailed under a $265,000 bond on a misdemeanor charge of communicating threats and felony charges of threatening an executive, legal or court officer and obstruction of justice.

Police added the obstruction charge last month after Redner allegedly sent his mother a Feb. 14 letter from jail instructing her to destroy a laptop that he said he hid in their home.

Defense attorney Collin Cook, who asked Monday for a $15,000 bond, told Mangum that the website posts were "immature and inarticulate" and had no direct threat of bodily harm.

"He's being held in jail on a bond I would argue is clearly excessive," Cook said.

Cook also argued that the state statute under which Redner is accused of threatening an executive officer doesn't apply to a city mayor.

But Wake County Assistant District Attorney Boz Zellinger said the statute is archaic and that Redner's bond should not have been reduced until he at least undergoes a mental health evaluation.

Mangum, however, disagreed.

"These are low-level felonies, so it's difficult to keep a high bond on somebody," Zellinger said. "Judges always want to do the right thing, and I think that's what happened here today."

McFarlane hasn't spoken publicly about the incident, but Assistant District Attorney Jeff Cruden said during a bond hearing last month that she was terrified for her safety and the safety of her family.

Redner's next court date is April 7.