Texans are indignant after a “rogue” judge has established a bond for a suspect of capital murder accused of killing a Houston area of ​​Houston area only one day after his co-suspect, another suspect of capital murder, was released on bail.
Former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg slammed Judge Hilary Unger closed During “Fox & Friends” To provide a path for release for suspect Ronnie Palmer, who was sued in connection with the death of deputy Fernando Esqueda in July 2024.
“Our judges have unfortunately shown a pattern in Harris County to release repeated violent perpetrators among us,” OGG told Lawrence Jones on Friday.
“At the moment there are more than 830 fugitives or individuals on bond for capital murder or murder, but LJ, not for the murder of a police officer. This is a first for us.”
Unger Set Palmer’s Bond According to a judicial document shared by the Harris County Deputies’ Organization (HCDO) for $ 3 million on Thursday $ 3 million. Palmer has been in prison since July without so far no bond on that charge.
He is also confronted with two counts of serious abuse with a fatal weapon in the death of Esqueda. Bond for those costs has been set at $ 50,000 each.
Although Palmer will stay in prison from Thursday, he now has the opportunity to post bail and return to the street.
Harris County Sheriff’s deputy Fernando Esqueda in uniform for an American flag in this portrait of the sheriff. Esqueda was shot and killed in line in July 2024. (Harris County Sheriff)
This is on the heels of the release of the other Suspect in the murder of Esqueda, Dremone Francis, who was released to accommodate the arrest after posting the $ 1 million bond in November 2024.
In addition to his indictment in the capital murder, Francis was previously convicted of production and delivering drugs. He also ended his probationary period “unsatisfactory” in 2022.
Unger, whose duty it is to set bonds in such cases, should have put the amount higher to endanger public safety, OGG argued.
“Unfortunately, Judge Hilary Unger is a rogue judge and notorious for releasing repeated perpetrators who go outside and kill other members of our community,” she said.
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After the return of the community, a lawyer said Fox 26 Houston on Thursday that Unger was not involved in determining Bond for Francis, despite the Houston Police Officers’ Union And the HCDO who says she was.
“They made it very difficult for the judge because she was not the one who had put the band,” said Cheryl Irvin. “The bond was established and nobody objected to it from the office of the public prosecutor of the previous administration.”
Local points of sale reported That the State of Texas applied for proof of proof when Francis was arrested in July 2024, which would not have made a bond to an option. That hearing would take place within 10 days, but because that was not the case, Francis was eligible for Bond and his lawyer asked that it was established. It is not clear why the state did not continue with the hearing.
Anyway, the trade union chairman of the Houston police, Douglas Griffith, insisted that Unger could have taken additional measures to keep the community safe.
“He had several tires. He has had a long criminal history. She could have kept him. There is no forced mechanism not to keep him in prison. It is entirely up to her,” he said during “Fox & Friends First”, claiming that the judge had a history of releasing violent perpetrators.
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“If these guys don’t come to court because it is one Kapital murder caseThen we will be forced to go outside and get them again, and then they can shoot another officer, “he continued.” 42 rounds were shot on deputy Esqueda. These are violent perpetrators. We are going to see them again in the newspaper heads of the news, and it will all be on the back of this judge. “
Unger, who was re -election in 2026, previously campaigned with prioritizing “alternatives to imprisonment with a view to rehabilitation, a reduction in recidivism and an increase in the safety of the community,” said its campaign website.
FOX News Digital has contacted the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and the 248th District Right Bank for Comment.
Elizabeth Pritchett from Fox News has contributed to this report.
