A Fort Dodge man argued in Webster County District Court on Monday morning that the $500,000 cash-only bail he was being held on was “punitive” and his attorney advocated for a District Court judge to lower the bond amount.

Jordan Dee Andrew Webb, 29, is charged with second-degree sexual abuse with persons under the age of 12, a Class B felony; incest, a class D felony; and child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor.

After hearing testimony and arguments from both the state and the defense, District Court Judge Christopher Polking ordered the bond amount lowered to $75,000.

The case was prompted by a Webster County Sheriff’s Office investigation into health concerns involving a juvenile. According to a release from the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the department was alerted to the concerns on April 8 and the concerns “warranted an emergency removal from the guardian’s custody.”

During the Sheriff’s Office and Webster County Attorney’s Office’s investigation, a search warrant was executed on the residence at 1940 225th St., southwest of Fort Dodge. The property is owned by Harvest Baptist Church and is used for its Harvest Baptist Bible College.

Webb was arrested on April 25 at the Fort Dodge home of Cameron Giovanelli, a registered sex offender. According to testimony from Webster County Attorney’s Office Investigator Larry Hedlund, Webb had also been driving Giovanelli’s car that week.

Assistant Webster County Attorney Bailey Taylor argued that Webb’s “significant” ties to St. Lucia as well as other locations across the United States makes the defendant a flight risk.

According to a now-deleted Facebook page and website for Webb’s “Christ in the Caribbean” missionary work in St. Lucia, Harvest Baptist was the “sending church” for his mission work.

Marvin Smith IV, assistant pastor and missions director at Harvest Baptist Church, submitted a letter in support of Webb for the bond hearing.

“His current living situation is with a great man in our community that is more than willing to help him and if needed keep him accountable,” Smith wrote. “I don’t see any reasons why Jordan would need to be continually held in jail as I don’t see him as a risk to society nor do I see him fleeing the city.”

Smith testified that Webb’s passport is currently expired.

Smith also testified that Webb was not an active missionary for Harvest Baptist Church at the time of his arrest.

“The moral standards that we hold for our missionaries, he did not uphold that moral standard,” Smith said.

Taylor asked if that was because of the allegations against Webb in this case, and Smith said it was because he had cheated on his wife.

In a text message conversation submitted into evidence by the state, Smith wrote to Webb, “I’m gonna need to write a check to you for the lawyer fee. Pastor said it will look better than the church being responsible for extra cost after the $25,000.”

Abigail Webb, wife of the defendant, was asked about an internet search found on her phone that led to a webpage about “how to get a second passport.”

“I assume because we travel a lot, it popped up as an ad,” she said.

She also testified that she doesn’t believe the defendant is a flight risk.

Polking lowered Jordan Webb’s bond amount to $75,000 cash or surety. If Webb bonds out of jail, he will be under pretrial supervision of the Department of Correctional Services. He will have to surrender his passport and wear a GPS monitor. He will also not be allowed to have contact with any person under the age of 18.

Also on Monday, Webb entered a written plea of not guilty to the charges. No trial date has been set.