An Ellicott City dance instructor accused of sex crimes against three young girls was ordered set free on bond by a Howard County judge yesterday and can resume teaching while he awaits trial.

Jose Anibal Macedo, 41, of the 1100 block of Taylor Ave. in Halethorpe, Baltimore County, was required to post bonds totaling $30,000.

Macedo was ordered by Howard County District Judge Louis A. Becker not to have contact with the girls, remain under home detention, surrender his passport and submit to alcohol and drug screening.

But the judge decided to allow Macedo to continue teaching at Advance Dance Academy, although he must be supervised during private lessons.

His next court date was not set yesterday.

"I'm happy. We're going to prove that he's innocent," said Macedo's wife, Charlene, one of about 30 people, including Macedo's students and their parents, who attended the hearing in his support.

Macedo had not met all of his bond requirements last evening and was being held at the Howard County Detention Center, where he has been since his arrest.

Macedo was arrested Thursday at the studio he owns and operates in the 9300 block of Baltimore National Pike by Howard County police, who have been investigating him since February. Macedo has been charged in three cases involving girls who were 11, 12, and 13 at the time of the alleged crimes.

Macedo was charged with second-degree rape and child abuse and is accused of fondling two of the students as they were stretching and forcing another to have oral sex with him for nearly two years, beginning in November 1999, according to charging documents written by police.

All of the alleged incidents occurred during private, unsupervised lessons at the studio, police say.

Macedo, a U.S. citizen born in Peru, was denied bond at a hearing Friday because authorities said he might be a flight risk.

Macedo knew he was being investigated in March, but never tried to flee, his lawyers said yesterday. They also said that their client had bought round-trip tickets to Peru, but only to visit his sick mother.

"His life is in this country," said Samuel J. Brown, one of Macedo's attorneys.

Macedo's attorneys argued that he was not a threat to the community because he has not been convicted of other crimes in Maryland, although they said he did plead guilty to an alcohol violation involving minors in Michigan.

Unconfirmed charge

William C. Mulford, another of Macedo's attorneys, said Howard County police were using unconfirmed information to smear Macedo to gain a harsher sentence.

In one charging document, Detective Bonita Linkins said she had been told by an Anne Arundel County police sergeant that Macedo had been charged with second-degree rape in 1992. Linkins wrote that she had "not been able to confirm if the charges moved forward against Macedo."

Macedo's lawyers said yesterday that those charges against Macedo were dropped and the woman recanted her story.

"I think it's improper. ... The detective threw that in there to make [Macedo] look like a bad man," Mulford said.

Howard police said the information was intended as background information.

"The inclusion of previous alleged actions did not affect the current charges that the detective placed against Mr. Macedo," said Pfc. Denise Walk, a department spokeswoman.

Show of support

Some of Macedo's supporters cried in apparent relief when Becker set the bail amount. "I would never believe the charges are true ... but we were very concerned this would ruin his business and his family," said Mona Hicks, whose 11-year-old daughter has studied dance with Macedo for 2 1/2 years.

Howard County police say that Macedo has about 50 students and are asking parents of children who have had contact with Macedo to call them, but 21 parents have signed a petition saying Macedo has "never made a sexual advance. He has only ever treated [our daughters] with the utmost professionalism and respect."

"If you have confidence in the person, you will have no worries. I've never worried about" Macedo, said Laurie Beyerle, whose daughter Michelle is often Macedo's dance partner, has traveled with him on tours, and teaches at Advance Dance Academy.