The Houston Police Officers’ Union On Wednesday, cut a local judge for her “indefensible decision” to set a bond for a man accused of capital murder in the ambush of 2024 of a Harris County representative.
Judge Hilary Unger of the 248th Criminal Court district, which described the police union as “Rogue”, set a bond for a total of $ 1 million for Dremone Francis in November 2024 in direct opposition against the request of the public prosecutor for a no-bond hold. From Wednesday, Francis bail has posted and he is out of prison.
Francis is one of the two men accused of the death of Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda. He is accused of capital murder and tampering with evidence, and Unger has brought $ 500,000 for every charge.
“This is not only a case of judicial incompetence it is a shameful betrayal of the trust of the public and a direct threat to every citizen in Harris County. Let’s be crystal clear: Francis was not just a low-level perpetrator was an active participant in the cold-blooded bubble layer,” “the execution of an execution,” “” “.”
The trade union of the police officers of Houston described Harris County Judge Hilary Unger as “reckless” after her decision to make a band accused of capital murder at the murder of Harris County deputy Fernando Esqueda allowed him to be released from prison. (Harris County Sheriff)
Esqueda was shot and killed while performing surveillance in an unmarked police car in July 2024. Francis and his fellow suspect, Ronnie Palmer, are accused of shooting on the representative’s car so often that it was full of bullet holes, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. Esqueda was rushed to a local hospital where he died.
“If this case does not justify a decision without binding, what is it?” asked the police union.
While Palmer remains in prison without a band, Francis is free to roam. 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.
The police -Union stated that there have been 162 murders in Harris County Since 2021 where the suspect was on bond when the murder took place and Unger, who accused re -election in 2026, accused an activist judge who “gambles with public safety”.
Dremone Francis is one of the two men accused of the ambulance murder of Harris County -place replacement Fernando Esqueda and is now back on the street after placing Bond that was set at $ 1 million by Harris County Judge Unger. (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)
“This is not an isolated case. Judge Unger has a history of priorities of criminals over victims, undermining law enforcement and making our streets more dangerous,” said the trade union. “If we don’t stop judges like them now, we will continue to see repeated perpetrators and violent criminals are encouraged by a system that refuses to hold them responsible.”
Unger is known for letting repeated perpetrators go on Bond and performed her election campaigns on prioritizing “alternatives to imprisonment with a view to rehabilitation, a reduction in recidivism and an increase in community safety.”
The National Police Association has Written about Unger In the past she called her decisions that dangerous criminals were able to return to the community.
Judge Hilary Unger of Harris County is known for leaving repeated perpetrators on bond and in the past have been publicly criticized by the National Police Association and the Union of Houston Police Officers. (Rechterhilaryunger.com)
The most striking case, according to Fox 26 Houston, Is from 2021 when Andrew Williams, who was bond for separate capital murder and worsened attack costs from 2019, a wallet stable from 71-year-old Martha Medina and then persuaded her with his car, who killed her.
Williams was out of prison because he had posted the $ 150,000 bond set by Unger. Texas Law Ensures denial of bonds in cases of capital murder.
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Houston’s police union said on Wednesday that it will “not remain silent” after Unger’s most recent decision.
“We will fight alongside the Harris County Deputies’ Organization (FOP 39) to demand real bail reform and judicial responsibility. We will ensure that the name of Judge Hilary Unger is reminded for this reckless decision, and we will ensure that Harris County’s people never forget,” the tradebub said.
