DA's office wanted $250K bond for student accused of bringing gun to school twice, judge disagrees
Two different bond amounts for cases of guns in school
Harris County prosecutors wanted to set a high bond for an 18-year-old who allegedly brought a gun to school for a second time, but the judge disagreed. FOX 26's Randy Wallace compares the case to that of another 18-year-old on his first gun charge.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - According to court documents, in 2025, Osvan Cruz was granted deferred probation after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon for taking a gun to school. He was a juvenile at the time.
On April 15, police say a now 18-year-old Cruz brought a gun to Elsik High School.
Because it was the second time he allegedly brought a gun to school, the District Attorney's office asked 487th District Court Judge Stacy Allen Barrow to set Cruz's bond at $250,000.
Instead, she set his bond at $25,000 dollars, and Cruz walked out of jail.
Another judge's reaction to bringing a gun to school was much different.
On April 17, police say 18-year-old Joshua Bardo brought a gun to Tomball High school. It was his first offense and the DA requested a $15,000 bond.
But, due to the seriousness of the charge, 248th Criminal District Court Judge Hilary Unger set Bardo's bond at $50,000.
Most students are juveniles and are handled in the juvenile court system when they take firearms to school. But, Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers wants lawmakers to consider creating a law that would list those who take guns to campuses in a database, bringing more public awareness.