A Texas male implicated of killing a policeman in July 2024 is readied to show up in court Tuesday for the very first time because he was launched on $1 million bond recently.
Judge Hilary Unger of the 248th District Criminal Court in Texas, a Democrat, established the bond for Dremone Francis in November 2024 in straight resistance to district attorneys’ ask for a no-bond hold. Francis published the bond quantity and was launched sinceFeb 26.
“When I first found out about this, I was stunned, I was mortified, and then I got really, really angry because in my over 40 years of being involved in law enforcement and criminal justice, I have never, ever seen a defendant charged with capital murder of a police officer ever released on bond,” Houston Crime Stoppers Director of Victim Services and Advocacy Andy Kahan informed “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday early morning. “This is a slap in the face to all law enforcement officers and to the public in general.”
Francis is billed with funding murder and 2 matters of intensified attack about the deadly capturing ofHarris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda He is just one of 2 suspects, consisting of Ronald “Ronnie” Palmer Jr., in Esqueda’s murder. Palmer, whose bond has actually been evaluated $3 million, has actually not been launched.
HOUSTON AUTHORITIES UNION KNOCKS ‘ROGUE’ COURT FOR ALLOWING GUY CHARGEDS OF MURDER REPLACEMENT OUT ON BOND: ‘DISGRACEFUL’
Dremone Francis is billed with funding murder and 2 matters of intensified attack about the deadly capturing ofHarris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda He is just one of 2 suspects in Esqueda’s murder. (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)
Esqueda was fired and eliminated while performing security in an unmarked police wagon in July 2024.
Francis and Palmer are implicated of capturing at the replacement’s automobile numerous times that it was filled with bullet openings, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez claimed at the time. Esqueda was noticable dead at a regional medical facility.
TEXAS GUY CAUGHT AFTER REPLACEMENT’S AMBUSH CAPTURING FATALITY FOLLOWING LITTLE CAESARS STRIKE: CONSTABLE
Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda in attire before a United States flag in this picture offered by the constable. (Harris County Sheriff)
“From our perspective, you do not release an individual who represents a public safety risk,” Kahan claimed, including later on that Francis got on probation at the time of his apprehension and had actually currently breached those terms.
“This just sends a terrible message to everyone, and especially for law enforcement officers.”
Francis is the initial funding murder suspect to upload bond in 20 years, as 26 Houston initially reported. Capital murder is the only criminal activity in Texas in which a court can reject bond for an accused if they so pick.
HOUSTON AUTHORITIES UNION CAUTIONS CITY IS ‘NOT SAFE’ AS MURDER SUSPECTS REMAIN ‘STROLLING THE ROADS’
“There are a lot of million-dollar bonds on capital murder cases, people just don’t make them,” Sam Cammack, Francis’ lawyer, informed 26 “And Mr. Francis’ family made the bond for Mr. Francis. I think what a lot of people don’t understand is that he’s under 24-hour surveillance with GPS. He’s under house arrest, he can’t step out on his front porch.”
Ronald “Ronnie” Palmer Jr., that is butted in link with the murder of Deputy Fernando Esqueda, has actually not been launched on bond like his co-defendant, Dremone Francis. (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)
Kahan called the concept that accuseds can not get rid of or damage ankle joint displays “delusional.”
“If you’re going to release somebody who’s charged with capital murder of a police officer, that is a threat to public safety, and it shouldn’t depend on how much money you have,” Kahan claimed. “And even if the judge felt that she had to set a cash bond, she could have set an example by saying, ‘You know, Mr. Francis, you are charged with capital murder. That means you’re looking at one or two outcomes if you are convicted: life without parole or even the death penalty. Therefore, I’m going to set an astronomically high bond based on those factors.”
GO HERE TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION APPLICATION
Democratic Mayor John Whitmire on Monday condemned Judge Unger’s choice.
“HPD and our officers risk their lives for our safety, yet violent offenders, including those charged with capital murder, are getting low bonds,” the mayor claimed throughout an interview.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Pritchett added to this record.
