Bail has been reduced to $50,000 for a 69-year-old Salem man charged in Marion County Court with the attempted murder of his ailing wife.

Charles Wood was in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing with his public defender on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery of a victim over the age of 60.

The murder charge is a Class X felony punishable by between 6-30 years in prison if convicted, while the aggravated battery charge is a Class 2 felony is punishable by between 3 and 7 years in prison if convicted.

Wood waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and to a formal arraignment, and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

It was agreed that Wood’s bail would be reduced from $150,000 to $50,000. If he posts $5,000 cash bond and is released, he’s prohibited from having any contact with his wife.

According to records, Wood was arrested earlier this month after he called 911 to report he had given his wife an overdose of insulin in an attempt to kill her and end her suffering. His wife apparently suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and is in generally poor health.

The wife was taken by ambulance to Salem Township Hospital where she was kept for observation.

Woods’ appointed attorney Craig Griffin has filed a motion to have him examined by an expert to determine if he was sane at the time of the alleged offense.