Oct. 22 — Bail for Broadway resident John Robert McDonald was reduced again, although the 57-year-old was reportedly in custody elsewhere Monday.

According to eCourts, McDonald’s $1 million bond on two counts of criminal extortion and one count of cybercrime was reduced to $250,000 on Friday, Oct. 18, by U.S. District Court Judge Jerry Frank Wood Jr. Judge also ordered that McDonald be fingerprinted and provide a DNA sample before his release, noting that he had refused to do so.

McDonald was initially arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 16, on 14 counts of cyberstalking against 13 law enforcement officers and Broadway Mayor Donald Andrews. His bail was originally set at a total of $28,000 secured, or $2,000 per charge, but was reduced to an unsecured bond and he was released that day. An unsecured bond does not require payment to be released from jail.

On Thursday, McDonald was arrested again and his bail was initially set at $1 million, before it was lowered the next day.

Wood signed a holding order ordering McDonald to be transferred to another facility due to threats against Lee County Sheriff’s Office personnel, including jail staff Lt. Taylor Cupps.

In the most recent case involving alleged extortion, McDonald allegedly threatened Michael Eldred Roberts “to put the law on your ass” if he didn’t pay $500, according to eCourts.

Additionally, according to the arrest warrant, McDonald allegedly made a similar threat to Roberts regarding $300.

The person was not named in the warrant in connection with the 15th count of cyber stalking.

McDonald had a date set for Oct. 21 on two misdemeanor charges of writing an intimidating sign and disorderly conduct, which date back to May 21, 2023. In that case, McDonald allegedly posted a sign in his yard that contained racist language and a swastika

He pleaded guilty last year to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to 45 days in jail, along with a $503 fine and court costs, but appealed to Lee County Superior Court after being convicted.

McDonald also has a disposition hearing set for Nov. 6 on the two counts of felony racketeering and the 15 counts of cyberstalking.