Bond reduced for man charged with escaping from jail
HARTINGTON — A judge lowered the bond for a Laurel man accused of stalking, escape and assaulting a police officer after his lawyer presented a plan for him to enter treatment.
Even after bond reductions, bond in the cases against 26-year-old Jackson Metheny remain at $75,000 each, meaning he’d have to post $22,500 before he could be released on bond. He also has a pending case in Dixon County to be released on and then would have to re-establish medical insurance in order to be transferred into treatment.
“It sounds like there’s an awful lot that needs to be done before actually getting into treatment but I will help out a little bit,” said District Court Judge Bryan Meismer at the 10-minute hearing Monday morning.
Metheny faces misdemeanor charges in Cedar County court for criminal trespassing and disturbing the peace for allegedly entering a home without permission.
Metheny was charged with felonies for allegedly assaulting a Cedar County jailer; violating a protection order and stalking related to the victim in the first case.
He was also charged with escape, theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle to flee from jail when he allegedly stole an ATV and left the area.
Nikki Brandt with the Cedar County Public Defender’s Office said a bed was being held for Metheny at Mission Field, a secure treatment facility in Nebraska City. She said Metheny has received treatment in the past and upon release he relapsed.
The Mission Field program is longer and more strenuous, she said.
“We believe it’s the type of program Mr. Metheny needs to be rehabilitated and deal with his current issues,” she said.
She said if Metheny was released on bond, he would be monitored by GPS and limited from going near the alleged victim’s home.
Meismer said he appreciated Brandt’s efforts for Metheny to get treatment but he can’t ignore the disrespect of the law.
“There were already things in place to protect this person before the violation of a protection order charge. So he ignored the first piece of paper (protection order) so there’s a second piece of paper (bond conditions) that all of a sudden magically are going to protect this person?” Meismer asked.
Cedar County Attorney Nick Matney argued for no reduction of bond in the cases, stating the public needed to be protected and Metheny’s flight risk.
“If given the opportunity it may be very difficult to get him back into court,” Matney said.