Bond doubles for man accused of stalking

The Daily Inter Lake

District Judge Kitty Curtis Monday doubled the bond for Michael L. Swelland, who is accused of stalking his estranged wife and violating a protective order she has against him.

In October, District Judge Ted Lympus increased Swelland's bond from $5,000 to $100,000. Then, Swelland was accused of calling the woman 217 times in nine days - once, allegedly while the woman was sitting at the sheriff's office to file a complaint about him.

When a deputy took the phone and told Swelland to stop calling, "He didn't even end the conversation and then he'd call right back," the woman said.

He also reportedly made obscene threats and told her, "Your restraining order will never affect me because I will fight you around it."

That was all enough for Lympus to set bond so high in October.

Since then, Swelland, 36, has been accused of continuing to call the woman on her cell phone, at her house and at work.

He denied making the calls, except for one in which he "accidentally" dialed her number.

A bail bondsman who put up the original $100,000 said Swelland has been a model arrestee on house arrest.

Curtis still doubled the bond to $200,000 and ordered Swelland to appear before a judge if he is able to post it and is freed, awaiting trial.