A judge decided Wednesday to reduce the bond for a man charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of his father-in-law.

Joseph Hester

A judge decided Wednesday to reduce the bond for a man charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of his father-in-law.

Joseph Hester Jr., 31, was originally charged in May with two counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Authorities accused him of opening fire on a car.

His father-in-law, Anthony Earl Crim, 53, was sitting in the car with two other men, one of whom officials say may have been Hester’s target because he thought the man was having an affair with his wife.

Crim died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head.

The attempted murder charges did not allow Hester the opportunity to post bond. But when the State Attorney’s Office reduced those charges to manslaughter in late June, that option became available.

“He’s entitled to bond, he’s entitled to reasonable bond,” said Tania Alavi, who appeared as Hester’s defense counsel only during this proceeding. Court records indicate that Hester has neither acquired a private attorney or been appointed a public defender.

Alavi asked the court to set bond at a total of $20,000 for both charges, while Assistant State Attorney Toby Hunt asked for $50,000.

Circuit Judge Robert Hodges set the total bound amount at $35,000 – $25,000 on the manslaughter charge and $10,000 on the firearm possession charge.

If Hester posts bond, Hodges ordered that he must stay away from the two other victims in the case and some of his wife’s family members. He must also meet a daily 7 p.m. curfew if he goes to work.

Hunt said that Hester faces a maximum of 45 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Several of his family members, including his wife, testified in court Wednesday that they did not want him in jail.

“I need him out there, all of us need him out there,” said Anthony Crim Jr., Hester’s brother-in-law.

Crim said that he’s known Hester for all of his life and that he knew Hester loved his father as much as he did.

Hester’s wife said she needed him out of jail to work and help support their three children.

Hester’s father, Joseph Hester Sr., said that he would have a job for his son in his construction company.

“I don’t think, based on what we heard, that he’s going to put his family in jeopardy,” Alavi said.