A Douglas County judge’s decision to revoke the bond of a man convicted in a Baldwin shooting case “for his own protection” was upheld Monday by another judge.

Douglas County Chief Judge Robert Fairchild ruled that Judge Jack Murphy had the right to revoke the bond for Stephen Meeker last week without a special hearing.

“He just believed his first decision was incorrect,” Fairchild said of Murphy’s decision to revoke the bond he originally allowed.

On July 19, Meeker was convicted by a jury of aggravated battery, attempted aggravated battery and aggravated assault. He had been charged in an Oct. 14 shooting incident outside his home in Baldwin.

After the trial, Murphy denied a motion by Assistant Dist. Atty. Dan Dunbar to revoke the bond. Dunbar’s motion is standard for such a conviction, which carries a presumptive prison sentence.

But July 22, Murphy reversed himself and ordered Meeker taken into custody for his own protection. Meeker’s attorney, Jim Rumsey, said Murphy made his decision because of the collapse of the Baldwin Police Department.

The same day Meeker was found guilty, longtime Baldwin Police Chief Steve Butell resigned.

Meeker has been free on $15,000 bond since he was charged last year. He was taken into custody July 22 by a sheriff’s officer when he reported to the Court Services Office for a pre-sentencing investigation.

Meeker is to be sentenced Aug. 16.

Rumsey also said Murphy told him his decision was made based on trial testimony, the same explanation Murphy gave to the Journal-World.

During the trial there was testimony that last winter, Meeker’s wife was followed from Lawrence to Gardner by Chris O’Neil, the victim in the attempted aggravated battery conviction.

There also was testimony that O’Neil threatened Meeker after he had been placed in handcuffs by police after the shooting.

The Meekers, however, moved from Baldwin to Gardner in February.

Rumsey had subpoenaed Murphy to testify, but Fairchild would not allow the judge to take the stand.

“I don’t believe it is appropriate to subpoena a judge to explain his ruling,” Fairchild said.

Fairchild and Rumsey both said they had not been able to find any other law cases that addressed what Murphy did.