Man accused of threatening Raleigh mayor fails in bid for lower bond

Alec Dane Redner, 27, of 11024 Brass Kettle Road, was arrested last month on charges of communicating threats and threatening an executive, legal or court officer. He is being held in the Wake County jail under a $250,000 bond.

Defense attorney Collin Cook called the bond "unconstitutionally excessive" for misdemeanor charges and asked that it be dropped to $10,000.

Wake County Assistant District Attorney Jeff Cruden said McFarlane feared for her safety and that of her family because of the threat and asked the Redner's bond remain high.

Police said Redner posted a message to McFarlane's political website that read, “You make a joke about the U.S. Constitution but soon you will (be) on the other end of the barrel.” The message also referred to the mayor by a crude name and told her to “watch out.”

When police tried to arrest Redner, he fled his home and had to be tracked down, Cruden said. A car parked in the driveway had a loaded shotgun on the seat, he said, although Cook said the gun didn't belong to Redner.

"She's scared to death," Cruden said of McFarlane. "She's never experienced anything like this (threat) before. She's scared for herself, her husband and her children."

District Judge Keith Gregory refused to lower Redner's bond, saying he believes Redner poses a clear threat to public safety.

Redner's next court date is March 3.