| By Neil Johnson, anchor/reporter, WCLO Radio News |

Janesville resident Derrick D. Stevenson is free on bail again just a few weeks after police say he’d returned to the same house where he’s accused of holding people hostage and firing a gun last October.

On Friday, Court Commissioner Mason Braunschweig rescheduled a preliminary hearing for an Oct. 21 domestic violence case against the 30-year-old Stevenson. The decision came after Rock County Assistant District Attorney Noah Tylenda said his office hadn’t had ample time over the holidays to subpoena a witness in the abuse case, which police say rolled out inside a house in the 900 block of Riverside Drive.

Stevenson showed up for the hearing Friday in street clothes. Braunschweig said Stevenson apparently is free on bond.

On Dec. 22, Rock County Judge Ashley Morse had lowered Stevenson’s bond in the October arrest from $100,000 to $1,000. Stevenson posted bond later that day.

Police say hours later, Stevenson went right back to the same house on Riverside Drive–against the conditions of his bond–and threatened the same people he’s accused of holding hostage with guns on Oct. 21.

A judge on Dec. 27 signed an extension to the $1,000 bond in the related October case. State court records don’t identify that judge.

In the October incident, police say Stevenson had two firearms in the house. He’s suspected of 13 counts in the domestic violence case, including weapons charges. He’s accused of threatening people at gunpoint and shooting one of the guns while holding people hostage inside the Riverside Drive house.

Police say they recovered guns, a spent bullet casing, and a bullet, inside the house.

Police say on Dec. 23 — the day Stevenson returned to the Riverside Drive house, freshly bailed — he went inside, threatened people there again, and refused to leave. Police later found Stevenson hiding in an attic crawlspace and arrested him for violating his bond.

Authorities have not formally filed a criminal case for the Dec. 23 arrest. Friday’s court appearance and Braunschweig’s move to reschedule a preliminary hearing applied only to the Oct. 21 incident.

After the brief hearing Friday, Stevenson gave court officials a polite farewell before walking out of the courtroom by himself.

Stevenson’s now slated to appear in court Jan. 16 on the October charges. Authorities say those charges could include various counts of bail jumping and domestic abuse-related disorderly conduct.

According to court records, Stevenson otherwise has no history of violent crimes.