Accused Texas cop killer returns to court docket after Dem decide freed him on bond in ‘slap within the face’ transfer: knowledgeable

A Texas man accused of murdering a police officer in July 2024 is about to look in court docket Tuesday for the primary time since he was launched on $1 million bond final week.

Choose Hilary Unger of the 248th District Felony Courtroom in Texas, a Democrat, set the bond for Dremone Francis in November 2024 in direct opposition to prosecutors’ request for a no-bond maintain. Francis posted the bond quantity and was launched as of Feb. 26.

“After I first came upon about this, I used to be shocked, I used to be mortified, after which I received actually, actually indignant as a result of in my over 40 years of being concerned in regulation enforcement and legal justice, I’ve by no means, ever seen a defendant charged with capital homicide of a police officer ever launched on bond,” Houston Crime Stoppers Director of Sufferer Companies and Advocacy Andy Kahan instructed “Fox & Associates” on Tuesday morning. “This can be a slap within the face to all regulation enforcement officers and to the general public on the whole.”

Francis is charged with capital homicide and two counts of aggravated assault in reference to the deadly taking pictures of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda. He’s considered one of two suspects, together with Ronald “Ronnie” Palmer Jr., in Esqueda’s killing. Palmer, whose bond has been set at $3 million, has not been launched.

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Dremone Francis is charged with capital homicide and two counts of aggravated assault in reference to the deadly taking pictures of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda. He’s considered one of two suspects in Esqueda’s killing. (Harris County Sheriff’s Workplace)

Esqueda was shot and killed whereas conducting surveillance in an unmarked police automobile in July 2024. 

Francis and Palmer are accused of taking pictures on the deputy’s automobile so many instances that it was riddled with bullet holes, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez mentioned on the time. Esqueda was pronounced lifeless at a neighborhood hospital.

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Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda in uniform in entrance of a US flag on this portrait supplied by the sheriff. (Harris County Sheriff)

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“From our perspective, you don’t launch a person who represents a public security danger,” Kahan mentioned, including later that Francis was on probation on the time of his arrest and had already violated these phrases.

“This simply sends a horrible message to everybody, and particularly for regulation enforcement officers.”

— Andy Kahan, Houston Crime Stoppers

Francis is the primary capital homicide suspect to put up bond in twenty years, as FOX 26 Houston first reported. Capital homicide is the one crime in Texas by which a decide can deny bond for a defendant in the event that they so select.

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“There are a whole lot of million-dollar bonds on capital homicide instances, individuals simply do not make them,” Sam Cammack, Francis’ legal professional, instructed FOX 26. “And Mr. Francis’ household made the bond for Mr. Francis. I feel what lots of people do not perceive is that he is underneath 24-hour surveillance with GPS. He is underneath home arrest, he cannot step out on his entrance porch.”

Ronald “Ronnie” Palmer Jr., who’s charged in reference to the homicide of Deputy Fernando Esqueda, has not been launched on bond like his co-defendant, Dremone Francis. (Harris County Sheriff’s Workplace)

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Kahan known as the concept defendants cannot take away or tamper with ankle screens “delusional.”

“If you are going to launch anyone who’s charged with capital homicide of a police officer, that could be a menace to public security, and it should not rely upon how a lot cash you will have,” Kahan mentioned. “And even when the decide felt that she needed to set a money bond, she might have set an instance by saying, ‘You understand, Mr. Francis, you might be charged with capital homicide. Meaning you’re taking a look at one or two outcomes in case you are convicted: life with out parole and even the dying penalty. Subsequently, I will set an astronomically excessive bond primarily based on these elements.”

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Democratic Mayor John Whitmire on Monday condemned Choose Unger’s choice.

“HPD and our officers danger their lives for our security, but violent offenders, together with these charged with capital homicide, are getting low bonds,” the mayor mentioned throughout a press convention.

Fox Information’ Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.