A SULLIVAN COUNTY GENERAL SESSIONS COURT JUDGE HAS REDUCED THE BOND FOR A KINGSPORT MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO INTIMIDATE A WITNESS. JAMES SWAFFORD JR. IS CHARGED WITH EXTORTION, RETALIATION FOR PAST ACTION AND COERCION OF A WITNESS. HIS BOND WAS SET AT A MILLION DOLLARS, BUT JUDGE MARK TOOHEY REDUCED THE AMOUNT TO A HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS DURING A BOND HEARING YESTERDAY. SWAFFORD IS ALLEGED TO HAVE THREATENED THE LIFE OF A CO-CONSPIRATOR WHO AGREED TO TESTIFY AGAINST HIM IN A DRUG CONSPIRACY CASE THAT IS SET FOR NEXT MARCH. SWAFFORD IS ACCUSED OF OPERATING A DRUG DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS THAT BROUGHT IN MORE THAN 700 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA INTO SULLIVAN COUNTY OVER THE COURSE OF A DECADE. JUDGE TOOHEY ORDERED SWAFFORD ON HOUSE ARREST IF HE POSTS BOND. TODAY, SULLIVAN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE JERRY BECK WILL CONSIDER A MOTION TO INCREASE SWAFFORD’S BOND ON THE DRUG CONSPIRACY CHARGES TO ONE MILLION.