A federal judge ordered the release of Honolulu police officer Michael Steven Chu Wednesday afternoon.

Chu and co-defendant Athena Sui Lee are charged with conspiring to possess and distribute 48 marijuana plants and one pound of processed marijuana in connection with an indoor-growing operation in a Kapiolani Boulevard apartment and another one in a Mililani Mauka home.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi also ordered the release today of Lee.

Both will be free on unsecured, $25,000 signature bonds. They will also be under electronically monitored home confinement with Chu released into the custody of his father.

The government had asked to have Chu and Lee remain in custody pending trial without the opportunity for bail.