Following a hearing in Butler County Court on Tuesday, a Penn Township man charged in several cases including several felony firearms charges, was released today from the county jail pending trial.

Judge William Shaffer issued the order releasing Shawn E. McDonell, 37, to house arrest with electronic monitoring by the Butler County Adult Probation Office following argument that McDonell had been held in the jail in excess of time set forth in state law regarding pretrial incarceration.

The law states that “except in cases in which the defendant is not entitled to release on bail as provided by law, no defendant shall be held in pretrial incarceration in excess of 180 days from the date on which the complaint is filed.”

According to McDonell's attorney, Public Defender Joseph Smith, he has been incarcerated for 202 days. According to prison officials, McDonell was released today.

He was also ordered to continue to participate in mental health treatment after his release.