William "Bill" Halle

William “Bill” Halle was released from the county prison Thursday after a bail bondsman posted $20,000 in bail.

Halle, 59, a Butler resident and former Butler Area school board member, was being held while he awaits trial on charges alleging he had sexual contact last year with a 17-year-old girl who worked for the faith-based nonprofit organization he ran in the city of Butler.

Halle’s release came after Senior Judge William Shaffer reduced Halle’s bail from $250,000 to $20,000. Shaffer’s order places Halle on pretrial supervision and forbids him from contacting the teenager, who is now 18, and her family.