The bond of an accused rapist was lowered Tuesday afternoon, but it wasn’t as much as the defense had hoped.

Andre Ellis, accused of raping two women at a Troy mobile home park in March, appeared in court before Judge Thomas Hightower to request a bond reduction.

Ellis’ attorney, J. Carlton Taylor, told the judge his client was not a flight risk due to strong family ties in the community. He also noted that Ellis is self-employed as an auto detailer and used vehicle salesman and “needs to get out” in order to keep his business from failing.

“We’re not talking about an isolated incident,” argued Pike County Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Moore, noting that one rape was “very, very brutal.”

“Mr. Ellis doesn’t have a great history appearing before the court,” Moore added.

Taylor argued that there was no DNA evidence, at this time, tying Ellis to the rapes and that a fair bond would be a total of $175,000 for all charges against him.

Before Tuesday, Ellis had two bonds of $200,000 for each rape case and a burglary charge with a $50,000 bond.

Hightower lowered each rape bond by $50,000.

Ellis will appear before a grand jury on July 31.