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TO Texas judge, Who has been described as “rogue” and activist for the Union of Houston Police officers, remains under fire after she lent bail for the second suspect accused of capital murder in the death of Harris County deputy, Fernando Esqueda.
Judge Hilary Unger of the Criminal Court of District 248 in Harris County established a $ 3 million bonus for Ronnie Palmer on Thursday, according to a judicial document shared by the organization of the deputies of the Harris County (HCDO). Palmer has been in jail since July without any link with that position until now.
In addition to the position of capital murder, it also faces two aggravated assault positions with a mortal weapon in the death of Esqueda. The bonus for these charges is established at $ 50,000 each.
The controversial movement of Unger occurs one day after the other suspicious in the murder of Esqueda, Dremone Francis was released from jail after registering the $ 1 million bonus established in November 2024.
Judge Hilary Unger established a $ 3 million bonus for Ronnie Palmer, who is accused of capital murder and assault aggravated by the death of Harris County deputy, Fernando Esqueda. (Judgehilaryunger.com)
The HCDO criticized Unger on Wednesday when Francis was released from jail, and came after her on Thursday when he put bail for Palmer.
“If you were outraged yesterday, he only expects what Judge Hilary Unger did today. A link was established for Ronny (sic) Palmer, who accuses the murder of deputy Fernando Esqueda. Now we are beyond indignation, this is a misfortune,” the organization wrote in X.
HCDO also shared the judicial document that shows where Unger established the Palmer Bonus for the position of capital murder of a police officer at $ 3 million. The Texas Law allows the denial of bonds in Capital murder cases.
Although Palmer remains in jail as of Thursday, he now has the opportunity to pay bail and return to the streets.
Ronnie Palmer is accused of capital murder and two positions of aggravated assault in the murder of July 2024 of the Deputy of Harris County, Fernando Esqueda. (Harris County Sheriff)
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.”
Harris County Sheriff’s deputy, Fernando Esqueda, was shot dead in July 2024 in an ambush attack, said Sheriff Ed González at that time. (Harris County Sheriff)
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.
“People have rights. Regardless of what people have done, they still have a right. A right is the right of the eighth amendment to the reasonable bond. And the reasonable bond was established for the coding, and made the bond,” Irvin told Fox 26. “No one should be objected to that. It is in the house arrest and all the things that the judge considered appropriate.”
The suspect of capital murder, Dremone Francis, was released from the prison in Harris County, Texas, Wednesday after publishing the bail of $ 1 million established for him in November 2024. (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)
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Unger, who is in re -election in 2026, is known for letting the repeat offenders go to bail and carry out their electoral campaigns to prioritize “alternatives to imprisonment with an eye towards rehabilitation, a reduction in recidivism and an increase in community safety,” according to their campaign website.
“This is not an isolated case. The Unger judge has a history of prioritizing criminals over victims, undermining the police and making our streets more dangerous.” He said the police union. “If we do not stop judges like her now, we will continue to see the violent criminals and criminals emboldened by a system that refuses to hold them responsible.”
Fox News Digital has communicated with the Harris County District Prosecutor and District Court 248 to comment.
