BLOOMINGTON - McLean County Board member Robert Nuckolls posted $400 Friday afternoon to be released from jail on two misdemeanor counts of violating an order of protection. | Embattled county board member Nuckolls arrested

Setting his bond was delayed for several hours Friday until a conference call was set up between defense attorney Jonathon Backman, Associate Judge Casey Costigan and special prosecutor Charles Zalar, who is based in Springfield. Zalar filed the formal charges, allowing the judge to set bond.

Nuckolls, 46, was arrested Thursday morning after Bloomington police received a disorderly conduct complaint shortly after 9 a.m. on Christopher Way.

Robert Nuckolls

The call appears to be related to the orders of protection against Nuckolls. Charges state Nuckolls was within 500 feet of Megan Nelson, a woman named in an order of protection, and within 500 feet of her home on Christopher Way.

McLean County State's Attorney Bill Yoder said Friday the matter will be handled by a special prosecutor because of a potential conflict of interest for his staff.

"This office represents the County Board, so there's a pretty strong conflict of interest or perception of conflict," Yoder said.

Meanwhile, the head of the County Board announced Friday he intends to remove Nuckolls from his committee assignments on the McLean County Board.

Board Chairman Matt Sorensen said in a statement that as chief ethics officer of the county, he "is responsible to protect the board and our citizens from potential conflicts of personal interest on the part of board members."

Sorensen said he will suspend a board rule at the September meeting that requires members to serve on committees and allows members to approve any changes in assignments. A new lineup of committees will be presented that removes Nuckolls from his assignment on the justice and executive committees, Sorensen said.

Nuckolls, who lives in the 2800 block of Gill Street in Bloomington, was booked at the McLean County jail shortly before noon Thursday.

The accusations stem from a police call from Megan Nelson.

Earlier this summer, Nuckolls agreed to a two-year order of protection filed against him by Nelson and her mother, Margaret Nelson. As part of the court agreement, the two women agreed not to initiate contact with him.

Immediately after that case was settled, Nuckolls filed a defamation suit against the women. A status hearing on the matter is set in November.

The lawsuit accuses the women of making false harassment claims against Nuckolls.

Nuckolls and Margaret Nelson both work at Illinois State University in different departments. Nuckolls was transferred several weeks ago from the parking and transportation area to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

Megan Nelson works for county government.