DECATUR - Attorney Mark Bradley was released from the Macon County Jail under a $10,000 personal recognizance bond Friday, following his arrest Thursday on an allegation of intimidation of a public official.

No formal charge has been filed against Bradley, who was an assistant state's attorney until he resigned in April and went into private practice.

Associate Judge James Coryell agreed to the recognizance bond following a session in his chambers with special prosecutor Jeff Justice and defense counsel William M. Anderson IV of Creve Coeur, who attended law school with Bradley.

Among conditions of the bond were no contact with Associate Judge Lisa Holder White or her clerk, Tonya Neal, and that Bradley obtains a psychiatric evaluation, complete any recommended treatment and submit proof of his compliance to the Macon County Office of Court Services.

Prior to setting bond, Coryell said he had reviewed the sworn statement filed by sheriff's detective Jim Hermann and found probable cause that Bradley should be detained.

In that statement, Hermann said that about 8:25 a.m. Friday, Bradley arrived at White's chambers, seeking to speak to her but was informed by Neal that the judge had not arrived yet.

Bradley then stated to Neal, "She can run, but she can't hide, I went to her house for a warrant and I know where she lives," Hermann said. Neal stated she took Bradley's comment as a threat and stared at him with a shocked expression, he said.

Neal advised that Bradley then turned and walked toward the office door and paused, then laughed and stated, "You have to laugh," Hermann said. Neal stated that Bradley hesitated for a second as if he was waiting to see what her response was and then left the office, Hermann said.

Neal went to the door that White uses to enter the courts facility and met her upon her arrival, Hermann said. When Neal informed White of what Bradley had said, the judge took his comment as a threat, he said.

White is concerned about her safety and that of her family, Hermann said.

Prior to Bradley being arrested at 10:40 a.m. Thursday, he returned to White's chambers, but Neal did not answer the door and White pushed an alarm button that summoned court security officers, Hermann said.

The doors to all judges' offices in the Macon County Courts Facility are kept locked as a routine safety precaution.

Bradley appeared in court twice Friday, garbed in a gray-and-black striped jail jumpsuit. The first time was prior to his bond hearing, when Associate Judge Timothy Steadman requested his presence for several hearings on state motions to disqualify Bradley from representing people charged with crimes on the basis that he would provide ineffective assistance of counsel.

Of six hearings conducted Friday, of which Bradley was present for four, three defendants opted to obtain another attorney and three waived their right to challenge any conviction on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel.

State's Attorney Jack Ahola said his office has filed motions to disqualify in many of Bradley's cases, either because of perceived conflicts stemming from Bradley's time as an assistant state's attorney or because of a ruling Steadman made.

Steadman set aside a burglary conviction at the sentencing hearing and ruled the defendant had received ineffective assistance from Bradley.

ringram@herald-review.com|421-7973.