NASHUA – In order that he be able to enter a treatment facility in Pennsylvania, a Superior Court judge on Wednesday agreed to modify bail conditions for Michael Pellerin, the Hudson man charged in November with breaking into his ex-wife’s residence and stealing a gun before triggering an hours-long police manhunt.

Pellerin, 45, who had been jailed on preventive detention bail since the incident, appeared in court Wednesday with his attorneys to ask Judge Willian Delker to grant him personal recognizance bail so he could enter the treatment program, which is in Lancaster, about 80 miles west of Philadelphia.

Pellerin, accompanied by his attorneys, Daniel Donadio and Michelle Pike, sat silently at the defense table throughout the hearing, but expressed gratitude several times when Delker announced his ruling.

Delker reminded Pellerin that all the other conditions of his bail remain in place, including the protective order that prohibits him from contacting his ex-wife by any means and remain at least 300 feet away from her.

He also cannot possess firearms and must remain on good behavior. Also, Delker said, if Pellerin leaves the Pennsylvania treatment program for any other reason than successful completion, he will be arrested and his bail will revert to preventive detention.

If, upon successful completion of the program, Pellerin wishes to return to Hudson, he must be fitted for an electronic monitoring device – commonly called an electronic bracelet – and post $1,000 cash or surety bail, according to Delker’s order.

He also must live at the Hudson duplex his parents own, and stay away from his ex-wife and her residence.

Pellerin’s father attended Wednesday’s hearing, and asked to address the court.

He told Delker that he and his wife cannot transport their son to Lancaster due to their health issues, but they were able to enlist the assistance of a close friend who is willing to drive Pellerin to the facility.

Delker OK’d the request, ruling that Pellerin be released into the custody of either his father or the friend.

The incident that led to Pellerin’s arrest occurred over several hours on Nov. 17, beginning around 2 p.m. when police were called to a Greenfield Drive residence for a possible violation of a domestic violence restraining order, Hudson Police Capt. Tad Dionne said at the time.

Officers spoke with Pellerin’s ex-wife, who said she arrived home and allegedly found Pellerin inside her residence in violation of the court order.

She also told officers her firearm, a .38 special, was missing. Dionne said police later determined Pellerin had allegedly forced entry into the house.

He had fled into the woods by the time police arrived, Dionne said at the time. When a witness reported seeing Pellerin moving through a wooded area between Route 111, Sullivan Road and Paget Drive, police set up a perimeter and requested the regional Southern New Hampshire Special Operations Unit respond to the scene.

Dionne kept local residents apprised of developments during the manhunt by sending out emails with updates. Around 8 p.m., about six hours after the manhunt got underway, Dionne advised residents that police were pretty sure that Pellerin had “escaped the area” and was no longer in Hudson.

Roughly two hours later, Dionne sent an update stating that Pellerin had been captured in Tyngsborough, and was in the custody of police in that jurisdiction.

Tyngsborough Police Chief Richard Howe said the next morning that members of his department, with the assistance of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) SWAT team, had been able to track Pellerin to Forrest Marine & RV on Middlesex Road.

Officers surrounded the RV in which Pellerin was allegedly hiding, and moments later took him into custody without further incident.

Howe said Pellerin was unarmed at the time of his arrest.

According to Pellerin’s case file, the charges against him include one count each of burglary and theft of a firearm, both Class B felonies, along with seven counts of violation of a protective order, Class A misdemeanors.

One of the counts accuses Pellerin of coming within 300 feet of the residence, while the others stem from allegations he called his ex-wife six times from 4 to 6 p.m. that afternoon.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256, or at dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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