GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CN) - A Colorado judge on Monday quintupled the bond for a Marine veteran charged with assaulting a Grand Junction reporter in the name of "Trump's America" before setting his second trial for June 1.

"I want to make it clear that Mr. Egan will obtain mental health treatment and take all medications as prescribed for him, not some of them, not selected ones, but all medications prescribed for him by his mental health providers," said 20th Judicial District Judge JenniLynn Lawrence.

Prosecutors say Marine veteran Patrick Egan chased KKCO News reporter Ja'Ronn Alex about 40 miles from Delta to Grand Junction, Colorado, on Dec. 18, 2024. According to law enforcement, at a red light, the 39-year-old Egan pulled alongside the 22-year-old reporter and shouted, "Are you even a U.S. citizen? This is Trump's America now! I'm a Marine and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!"

According to witnesses, Alex returned to the station, where Egan blocked his path, put him in a headlock and strangled him.

Police charged Egan with second-degree assault, a bias-motivated crime and harassment. He pleaded not guilty in August 2025 after his public defenders sought multiple arraignment delays to consult mental health experts.

After a full day of jury selection and three days of testimony in January, Lawrence declared a mistrial when Egan's attorneys raised concerns about his competency.

Following a new mental health evaluation finding Egan competent, the Grand Junction judge set a new trial for June 1.

Since posting $20,000 bond in February, Egan has served a 55-day contempt sentence and, according to prosecutors, made threatening communications to witnesses.

"The violation of that protection order included statements that were threatening and very concerning, and Mr. Egan was held in contempt at his arraignment hearing the other week," said Victoria Fazzino, deputy attorney for Colorado's 21st Judicial District. "That gives the people concern that Mr. Egan isn't listening to the court's order."

Lawrence agreed, increasing Egan's cash-only bond for release fivefold to $100,000.

While the state public defender's office represented Egan through his initial trial, he requested to be appointed a new counsel moving forward.

Egan's new defense attorney, Jason Conley, supported Lawrence's decision to get the new trial on the calendar.

"I don't see it necessary to see Mr. Egan languishing in jail with nothing going on," Conley said.

Source: Courthouse News Service