A Tennessee resident who uses the online alias Chud the Builder and has gained notoriety for publishing racist content on social media platforms received a $1.25 million preliminary bond Friday on charges including attempted murder.
Dalton Eatherly, 28, stands accused of firing shots at another individual Wednesday afternoon outside the Montgomery County Courthouse following a confrontation.
During Friday’s arraignment proceedings, prosecution attorneys requested that Eatherly remain in custody without bond until a comprehensive hearing could take place next week. Judge H. Reid Poland III rejected that request but established a substantial bond amount, citing the presence of numerous individuals “in the courtyard or at the courthouse and the seriousness of these felonies.”
Beyond the attempted murder accusation, Eatherly is charged with using a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
Poland additionally referenced Eatherly’s previous bond releases in two separate cases. He is facing a harassment charge in Montgomery County from November and was also charged last week in Nashville’s Davidson County with theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Jacob Fendley, the attorney assigned to represent Eatherly on the felony charges Friday, did not respond to requests for comment.
Eatherly, who is white, creates social media content where he attempts to provoke Black passersby through racial slurs and racist dog whistles. He produces these videos in Nashville and in Montgomery County’s Clarksville.
According to jail records, he remained in Montgomery County jail custody Friday. A comprehensive bond hearing is set for May 21 with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 26.
