After spending nearly two months behind bars in a Lincoln County jail cell, a Meeker man charged with first-degree murder in his stepdaughter's death was released Wednesday after posting a $250,000 surety bond.

Michael Lee Porter, 25, is accused in the Oct. 11 death of 21Ž2-year-old Kelsey Shelton Smith-Briggs. Her death was ruled a homicide from blunt force trauma to the abdomen.

Porter was formally arraigned on the first-degree murder charge after his arrest in late October. He entered a plea of not guilty and has been jailed on a $1 million bond since.

On Wednesday, a hearing was held before Special District Judge Dawson Engle on whether to postpone the scheduled preliminary hearing status docket, which was originally set for Jan. 6.

Because of the size of the murder case, it was determined the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation wouldn't be able to complete case reports in time for the Jan. 6 hearing, so a continuance was granted. The new preliminary hearing status appearance will be 1:30 p.m. Jan. 27.

Because of the continuance, it was agreed that Porter's bond be reduced to $250,000. He bonded out of jail Wednesday afternoon on the surety bond, Lincoln County jail records show.

Several stipulations were required for his release. He had to surrender his passport, and he can't leave the state without permission. He is to have no contact with any listed witnesses for the case.

Porter also can't have visits with his 8-year-old daughter, Whitney, who is listed as a state witness, unless that visit is supervised.

He also must check in regularly with Oklahoma Court Services and must submit to random urinalysis, along with other conditions to bail, records show.