A former city employee implicated in the county's iPhone scandal and charged with two armed robberies while out on bail on a burglary charge, can bail out again -- but only if he posts more than $2 million, a judge ruled Thursday.

Circuit Judge David Audlin ordered that Brandon Druckemiller, 26, remain in Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island under a $1 million bail for each of his two pending armed robbery charges.

Druckemiller allegedly used an Airsoft BB gun to rob a cab driver and motel clerk Jan. 9 and 10, according to Key West police reports.

Audlin added $5,000 to the $2 million bail for a cocaine possession charge stemming from the robberies, for a total bail of $2,005,000.

Audlin's ruling followed a two-hour hearing Thursday in which defense attorney Don Barrett and Assistant Public Defender Trish Docherty argued that Druckemiller be ordered to a Homestead drug treatment center for nine months instead of jail.

Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne argued that Druckemiller remain in jail given the violent nature of the most recent charges, but added that he should pursue treatment offered in jail and move to attend treatment outside only after successfully completing the jail program.

Barrett was representing Druckemiller regarding his Oct. 10 arrest for allegedly burglarizing two relatives' homes.

He is accused of stealing about $13,500 in jewelry, including several gold chains, bracelets and a gold wedding band. Police said he had pawned some of the items before relatives called police.

Officers charged him with unarmed felony burglary of an unoccupied structure; and felony larceny, grand theft between $5,000 and $10,000, according to police records. After bonding out of jail, Druckemiller apparently pawned more of the stolen goods, prompting his re-arrest on new charges of dealing in stolen property.

Druckemiller returned most of the jewelry after he allegedly admitted taking it.

He bailed out and was awaiting trial on those charges when he allegedly committed the hold-ups.

Docherty is representing Druckemiller on the recent armed robbery charges.

He was fired from his plumber job with the city last year because of his role in the sale of county-owned iPads and iPhones.

Prosecutors believe he knew the devices were stolen, but could not prove it, according to their investigative report.

His mother, former county IT director Lisa Druckemiller, has been charged with those thefts.

Lisa Druckemiller is charged with dealing in stolen property and scheming to defraud. She was released on bail in June and is expected to enter a guilty or no-contest plea to the theft charges soon.

Audlin heard from her and other friends and family of Brandon Druckemiller before making his ruling Thursday. All described Brandon Druckemiller as a doting father and hardworking young man who succumbed to pain-killer addiction after knee surgery.

"I believe Judge Audlin was fair and listened to what we had to say," Lisa Druckemiller said outside court after the ruling.

"Today has nothing to do with me or anything else. It was about a child who needs help. And I pray that he gets the help he needs."

alinhardt@keysnews.com