Judge reduces Mangum’s bond

A judge Monday reduced the bond of Crystal Gail Mangum, the Duke lacrosse accuser who was jailed last week after police said she attempted to murder her boyfriend.

Mangum’s bond was reduced to $250,000 from $1 million. But even if she posts bail, Mangum, 31, would be placed under electronic house arrest, The (Raleigh) News & Observer reported Monday. She would also be prohibited from contacting her boyfriend, the newspaper reported.

The decision was made during a District Court hearing after the prosecutor and Mangum’s public defender, Lawrence Campbell, agreed to the lower amount, WRAL reported. Mangum did not appear in court Monday.

According to court documents, Mangum was arrested early last Thursday morning after a fight in her home with her boyfriend, Milton Walker. She reportedly scratched and punched Walker, 33, and threw objects at him. She also set his clothes on fire in a bathtub and threatened to stab him, according to court documents and the Durham Fire Department.

Police arrived at the home at 11:55 p.m. last Wednesday after one of Mangum’s three children called police, according to a recording of the call obtained by ABC News. The children, ages three, nine and 10, were home at the time of the incident, but were not injured.

Mangum has been charged with attempted first degree murder, five counts of first degree arson, assault and battery, identity theft, communicating a threat, injury to personal property, resisting a public officer and three counts of misdemeanor child abuse, jail documents state.

In March 2006, Mangum claimed that three Duke men’s lacrosse players raped her at an off-campus party. The players had hired Mangum, who was then an exotic dancer and a student at North Carolina Central University, to perform at the party.

Despite a lack of evidence and a mishandled investigation, former Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong charged the three players with rape and other offenses. All charges against the players were ultimately dropped, and Nifong was disbarred and jailed briefly for his handling of the case.