A Sonoma County judge on Friday released an Oakland man charged with fentanyl trafficking on the condition that he return to court next month. The decision comes amid controversy after a court commissioner rejected the judge’s initial $100,000 bail order for the man two weeks earlier.

Judge Troye K. Shaffer set the man’s bond at $100,000 on Oct. 18 because of the large amount of fentanyl that officers said they found in his vehicle and home. But a court commissioner — a court-appointed official who handles certain judicial duties in limited cases — later granted the man’s release without bail on the condition that he return for trial.

Sonoma County Assistant District Attorney Brian Staebell told The Press Democrat last week that the man’s release without bail was “troubling,” especially since commissioners don’t typically intervene in more serious cases.

There were no further explanations during Friday’s court proceedings. But the man, Jose Valle-Acosta, showed up.

He was provided a Spanish translator and represented by Deputy Public Defender Angelina Potter.

Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies arrested Valle-Acosta, 24, on Oct. 18 after pulling him over for traffic violations off Napa Road in Sonoma.

Officials said they found half a pound of fentanyl in his vehicle and later executed a search warrant at his Oakland home, uncovering another half pound as well as other drugs.

He was charged with illegal possession of drugs and transporting narcotics for sale.

At Friday’s hearing, prosecutors argued that the amount of fentanyl indicated Valle-Acosta’s potential involvement in a larger organization. They also pointed out that the drug, especially in such a large quantity, poses a danger to the community because of its lethal potential.

They argued that the original bail amount of $100,000 would prevent him from returning to the streets and doing more business.

“How does $100,000 in cash make us all safer?” Judge Shaffer asked the prosecutor, suggesting that Valle-Acosta could pay the amount and be released without conditions.

“That’s how the rules work,” one of the assistant prosecutors responded, arguing that the amount of fentanyl could kill a lot of people. “It’s a risk to the community.”

However, Potter argued her client was not a threat to the community because he had no criminal record and appeared in court Friday without incident, proving he was not a flight risk.

She argued, however, that he could be better monitored using a GPS device and given strict probation rules.

In the end, the judge sided with Potter and granted Valle-Acosta release without bail on the condition that he wear a GPS monitor and check in regularly with a probation officer.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 4 at 8:30 a.m.

You can reach staff editor Alana Minkler at 707-526-8531 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter,) @alana_minkler.