Breaking Bond

US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rules misdemeanor bond reform used by Harris Co. judge shouldn't have happened

April 3, 2023 7:21pm CDT

Since 2018, county court at law judges were ordered by a federal court to grant PR, or personal Recognizance, bonds to defendants charged with misdemeanors. It became known as the O'Donnel suit, and it has cost Harris County millions of dollars.

State Senator sponsoring bond reform bill quotes Breaking Bond report to illustrate why laws need to change

March 30, 2023 10:00pm CDT

"He left his curfew zone 847 times, was called 453 times about his whereabouts, and had more than 1,000 GPS monitor violations," Huffman read from our report from the Senate floor.

Aggravated robbery defendant violates bond conditions more than 1,000 times, gets rewarded by two judges

March 28, 2023 10:07pm CDT

"You've got someone who was rewarded for being a failure, and this guy was a failure over 1,000 and some odd times," said Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers.

Behind Breaking Bond: Why teen charged with body-slamming mother of 4 had bond lowered

March 28, 2023 2:14pm CDT

FOX 26's Randy Wallace looks at Joseph Harrell, 17, who is accused of potentially paralyzing a single mother of three, and had his bond reduced in our ongoing Digital Series Behind Breaking Bond.

25-year-old admitted gang member granted 31 felony bonds faces new judge

March 21, 2023 8:49pm CDT

The judge who continuously revoked and reinstated all Joshua Ortiz-Lopez's bonds lost in the primary. On Tuesday, Ortiz-Lopez learned the new judge who replaced her isn't playing.

Breaking Bond: The latest crime numbers in Houston plus the crime-related bills in Legislation

March 21, 2023 1:25pm CDT

Randy Wallace discusses the latest violent crime numbers so far this year in Houston and the status of some of the crime-related bills under consideration in the Legislative session.

27-year-old convicted felon on parole, out on bond at the same time now charged with capital murder

March 14, 2023 8:54pm CDT

A 27-year-old felon on parole, picked up a new charge, was released on bond and is now accused of killing a 45-year-old Houston man.

Behind Breaking Bond: Four public safety related bills being considered by Texas lawmakers

March 14, 2023 3:41pm CDT

We discuss four public safety-related bills that are now being considered by lawmakers.

33-year-old man goes from being a parolee to getting PR bond for murder charge

February 28, 2023 10:10pm CST

Jerry Bernard Jones is the first defendant we've found to get a PR, or personal recognizance bond, for a murder charge since the pandemic.

Man accused of murder racks up new charge killing teen while out on bond

February 21, 2023 9:46pm CST

It’s almost as if Harris County’s Criminal Justice System has bent over backward for James Sotelo. Corey Thompson’s mother wants to know why he was out on bond when police say he killed the 17-year-old.

Lawmakers push for 6 new felony courts, amendment to Texas constitution in hopes of stopping revolving door

February 14, 2023 9:17pm CST

Harris County will be the focal point when lawmakers in Austin take up bail bond reform.

19-year-old accused robber, who caused lockdown at southwest side high school, free from jail on bond

February 7, 2023 9:28pm CST

The Houston Independent School District doesn't want to say if it has a policy regarding students out of jail on bond. Apparently, the district has no idea how many students might fall into that category.

37-year-old man accused of assaulting at least 4 women granted bond, released after each alleged attack

January 31, 2023 9:09pm CST

The first time 37-year-old Rocky Javier Garza got charged with assault of a family member impeding breathing was in 2019. His sentence was 120 days in jail.