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The Texans are outraged after a “rogue” judge established a bonus for a suspect of capital murder who is accused of killing a deputy from the Houston area only one day after his coacked, another suspect of capital murder, was released on bail.
Harris County District Prosecutor Kim Ogg, criticized Judge Hilary Unger During “Fox & Friends” for providing a launching way for the suspect Ronnie Palmer, who was accused in relation to the death of deputy Fernando Esqueda in July 2024.
“Our judges, unfortunately, in Harris County, have shown a pattern to free repeated violent criminals among us,” Ogg told Lawrence Jones on Friday.
“At this time, there are more than 830 fugitives or people on bail for capital murder or murder, but LJ, none for the murder of a police officer. This is the first for us.”
Unger put Palmer’s link At $ 3 million on Thursday, according to a judicial document shared by the Organization of Deputies of the Harris County (HCDO). Palmer has been in jail since July without any link with that position until now.
It also faces two aggravated assault charges with a mortal weapon in the death of Esqueda. The bonus for these charges is established at $ 50,000 each.
Although Palmer remains in jail as of Thursday, he now has the opportunity to pay bail and return to the streets.
Harris County Sheriff’s deputy, Fernando Esqueda in uniform in front of an American flag in this portrait provided by the Sheriff. Esqueda was shot dead in the fulfillment of duty in July 2024. (Harris County Sheriff)
This comes immediately after the launch of the other suspicious in the murder of Esqueda, Dremone Francis, who was released for house arrest after registering the $ 1 million bonus established in November 2024.
In addition to its capital murder position, Francis had been previously convicted of manufacturing and delivering drugs. He also had his “carelessly finished” probation for 2022.
Unger, whose duty is to establish bonds in cases like these, should have established the highest amount to avoid compromising public safety, OGG argued.
“Unfortunately, Judge Hilary Unger is a dishonest judge and known for launching repeat offenders who come out and kill other members of our community,” he said.
Suspect from a deadly accident of the Texas DPS office now accused, facing a bail of $ 2 million
After the recoil of the community, a defense lawyer told Fox 26 Houston on Thursday that Unger was not involved in establishing bail for Francis, despite the Houston Police officers union And the HCDO saying that she was.
“They made it very difficult for the judge because she is not the one who had established the bond,” said Cheryl Irvin. “The bonus was established and nobody opposed the Office of the District Prosecutor of the previous Administration.”
Local outlets reported That the state of Texas requested an obvious test audience when Francis was arrested in July 2024, which would not have made any bonus an option. This hearing was supposed to happen within 10 days, but since it was not so, Francis became eligible for Bond and his lawyer requested that it be established. It is not clear why the State did not proceed with the hearing.
Anyway, the president of the Houston Police officers, Douglas Griffith, insisted that Unger could have taken additional measures to maintain the safe community.
“He had multiple links. He is out of a long criminal history. She could have sustained it. There is no forced mechanism not to keep it in jail. It depends completely on it,” he said during “Fox & Friends first,” arguing that the judge has had a history of freeing violent criminals on bail.
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“When these guys do not come to court because it is a Case of Capital MurderThen we will be forced to leave and get them again, and then they can shoot another officer, “he continued.” There were 42 rounds shot at the Esqueda deputy. These are violent criminals. We are going to see them again in the headlines of the news, and everything will be behind this judge. “
Unger, who is in re -election in 2026, previously campaigned in prioritizing “alternatives to imprisonment with an eye towards rehabilitation, a reduction in recidivism and an increase in community security,” according to the website of his campaign.
Fox News Digital has communicated with the Harris County District Prosecutor and District Court 248 to comment.
Elizabeth Pritchett of Fox News contributed to this report.
