Salinas Councilman Jose Castañeda posts bail, released from jail.

Salinas City Councilman Jose Castañeda, who was arrested Thursday afternoon on felony charges connected to an alleged domestic violence incident, was released from jail Friday afternoon after he posted bail. Bail was set at $100,000. 

Castañeda's attorney, Anthony Prince, says supporters have started a legal defense fund called Justice for Salinas. Prince will provide more information about the fundraising effort Tuesday before the City Council meeting. 

But the primary purpose of the legal fund is to cover a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Castañeda and several of his constituents in District 1, alleging city officials and policies have deprived them of fair representation in Salinas city government. 

"The priority is to prosecute our lawsuit," Prince said Friday morning, before Castañeda had been released. "That's the most important thing, the rights of the people of D1, even if Jose has to sit in jail for a while."

Castañeda had been fasting for his one day in jail and intended to continue, Prince said: "He has been advised by his pastor that fasting would be good to do for his own spiritual wellbeing, and as a protest." 

It was not immediately clear Friday night how Castañeda made bail, but supporters Friday were seeking the aid of a sympathetic bail bond agent willing to waive fees, and to allow Castañeda to make payments on a payment plan after his release. 

Castañeda says he's been unable to make payments toward a $5,000 court fine he was ordered to pay by Monterey County Superior Court Judge Kay Kingsley, who ruled in the city's favor in a lawsuit that ultimately forced him to resign his seat on the Alisal Union School District board after he won a City Council seat. 

Prince will not represent Castañeda in the domestic violence case; they are seeking criminal defense counsel, or may ask the court to appoint an attorney from the Public Defender's office to represent Castañeda. 

Prince will not speak about the facts of the case, but says Castañeda denies the allegations against him, dismissing the case as politically motivated. 

Police say Castañeda confronted his ex-girlfriend outside her home around midnight Sept. 4, and that he forced her into his van as she returned home from a night out. They say he then drove her away and kept her locked in the vehicle for close to four hours, and hit her several times. 

Prosecutors will decide by Monday whether to charge Castañeda.