A Portland, Ore., man charged with mailing a noose to a Lima, Ohio, activist pleaded not guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Toledo.

Daniel Lee Jones, 32, was in Toledo for arraignment after a federal court in Portland released him from federal custody following his arrest earlier this month in Portland.

Magistrate Vernelis Armstrong agreed to continue his release with many of the same conditions, although she added a $50,000 unsecured bond, telling him he had to post the bond only if he failed to appear at a future court hearing.

Mr. Jones, who was a regional director with a neo-Nazi group, the American National Socialist Workers Party, is charged with mailing a threatening communication and interfering with federally protected activities - charges that could result in a maximum prison time of six years and fines of up to $350,000.

Mr. Jones allegedly mailed a hangman's noose and racist literature to Jason Upthegrove, president of the Lima chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored

People, in February, 2008. He also is accused of sending hate flyers to some Lima residents.

The alleged incidents occurred in the weeks after a Lima police officer shot an African-American woman to death during a drug raid, and Mr. Upthegrove spoke out about what he perceived as unfair treatment of African-Americans by Lima police.

Dressed in blue jeans and a blue, button-down shirt, Mr. Jones answered the magistrate's questions politely, telling her he had earned a high school diploma and understood the charges against him.

Among the terms of his release, Magistrate Armstrong ordered that Mr. Jones appear for all court hearings, not own or possess firearms, have no contact with Mr. Upthegrove, his family, or any former or current members of the American National Socialist Workers Party, and allow his computer to be monitored.

Andrew Hart of the public defender's office was appointed to represent Mr. Jones.

Mr. Jones declined to comment.

First Published October 21, 2009, 1:54 p.m.