Harris County community members and law enforcement are expressing outrage and dismay that Judge Hilary Unger has released Capitol Murder suspect Dremone Francis on bond.
Deputies say Francis was arrested for allegedly pistol-whipping a pizza shop employee for getting his order wrong and for the ambush murder of Deputy Fernando Esqueda.
Statement from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez
Reference to the release of Dremone Francis:
This is an absolutely terrible message and the family of Deputy Esqueda should 100% be upset, which they are.
This is from the letter I recently sent in support of SJR 5:
“Protecting the lives of the people who live in Texas’ largest county is my top job as Harris County Sheriff. The decision of whether a person belongs in jail should be based on public safety, not the amount of money a person can pay.
For some people, there is no amount of money that can justify allowing that person to walk freely among our society.”
People charged with killing peace officers belong in that category.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez
Statement from Harris County Deputies’ Organization FOP Lodge 39
The HCDO FOP 39 is outraged and appalled that Dremone Francis, a man charged with Capital Murder in the death of Deputy Fernando Esqueda, has been given bond. Bond was set by Judge Hilary Unger of the 248th District Court.
This man is now free out on bond. This man has a criminal history of breaking parole conditions and now he has been let go on bond after being charged with Capital Murder.