NORWICH – A man under the spotlight in a local homicide investigation appeared in county court for the first time Monday.

Robert R. Reynolds, 46, 476 Pleasant Valley Road, Sherburne, appeared in court with his lawyer, Scott Clippinger of Smyrna, to ask for a bail reduction.

Chenango County Judge W. Howard Sullivan lowered the bail from $1 million to $50,000.

“At the time the original bail amount was set, the defendant and others were part of a homicide investigation. At this time however, those charges have taken a back burner as more facts have been exposed in the case and now the people will be moving forward with the drug and evidence tampering charges,” said District Attorney Joseph McBride.

McBride called Reynolds a “serious marijuana dealer” who had between $3,000 to $4,000 cash at his home when he was arrested along with up to four pounds of marijuana.