County Court Judge Dallas Powers this summer lowered the bond for Christopher Young so he could post $500 and be released from jail. Young, a nephew of Libbie Gerondale, was on probation and is charged with two felony drug offenses.

Judge Neal B. Bronson of Warren County Common Pleas Court is deciding whether evidence against Young should be allowed in court.

Young's lawyer says the arrest was improper, so evidence should be kept out of the case. Gerondale, a probation officer in county court, testified on behalf of Young.

Powers testified Wednesday that he took action after Gerondale left him a message about her nephew's arrest. He said he feared that Young's arrest might have been improper.

The judge's actions in the Young case are under scrutiny by state agencies that are investigating complaints against the judge.

Four sexual-harassment complaints surfaced in the past three weeks alleging that co-workers saw Gerondale and Powers in sexual contact, that Powers made unwanted sexual advances to an employee and that Gerondale received preferential treatment from Powers.

During Gerondale's 50-minute testimony, Assistant Prosecutor Andy Sievers asked whether her relationship with Powers was any different than the relationship Powers has with other probation officers.

Her reply: "No." After court, Gerondale declined further comment

Also Thursday, County Commissioner Pat South said the county will no longer pay for Powers' cell phone because a review of cell phone records showed "excessive personal use" of his county-issued phone.

South said some of the calls lasted for more than an hour and were made to Powers' daughter in Atlanta. A number of other calls came to the judge from Gerondale, South said. However, South said, "It's difficult for us to discern which calls were related to court business and which were something else."

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com