April Aguirre - Crime Victim Advocate Joins Houston's Morning News

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know, the violent people who get arrested should be
held in jail, not awarded a PR bond or if
you're going to give somebody an opportunity for bond, I
don't know, how about like a million bucks. That's not
what's happening. It's still not happening. We have a state
law now as regards these PR bonds, but we have

(00:23):
a judge, at least one judge. There's probably more Garan
Houston ignoring state law. We've seen this happen where we
have a violent suspect getting a PR bond let out
on the streets. Once again, judge doesn't seem to care.
Judge knows what the state law is. Judge doesn't seem
to care if Buligary joins US crime victim advocate. That's

(00:46):
pretty bold to be a judge in just basically saying
I'm going to ignore state law.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
And the thing is, after there's a legislative session, it
is up to a judge to make sure they're up
to date with thing and all the changes that have
been implemented and what has become new state law. So
you cannot be ignorant to the fact that this law exists.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
Well and even if you are ignorant. Ignorance as it relates,
the law has no excuse.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Is it absolutely not? Because you took an oath and
you have a duty to uphold the law. Therefore, you
need to know what the new laws are, especially since
the eighty ninth legislative session just wrapped up, and this
happens every two years. Any person that you know went
and got a law degree needs to understand this. But

(01:33):
you know, at this point, this lady just does not
have ethics. And we're talking about the three fifty first
criminal district judge, not at Cornelio. I mean, time and
time again is the pattern of behavior. And this guy
has a rap sheet like you wouldn't believe. And on
top of that, you know, he just shows that he
is not the kind of guy that we should gamble

(01:54):
with with public safety. But she takes chances on these
violent offenders time and time again.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
One of the consequences for breaking state law. I would
think that would be that would be a case for
removal from office, wouldn't it.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Absolutely? So, there is a panel, it's called the Judicial Commission,
Commission a conduct and what happens is people file complaints here, right,
So I do believe that there has been a complaint
filed and at this point there's going to be an investigation,
and this panel does have the ability to remove a
judge from.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
The bench, okay, because to me that that's the only
thing that's going to change anything is if it's if
there are actual consequences for these actions.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
Absolutely, And what's so sad is that on myself, alongside
Ambi Khon with Crime Stoppers all went to Austin to
testify and before this bill to make this change because
we saw the most violent offenders receiving PR bonds, which
is just a fancy word for get at a free
jail card basically on a promise that you're going to
be a good boy and come back to court or

(02:58):
girl right, And unfortunately that is I don't think any
amount of money that you do or do not have
to dictate whether you get or get out of jail.
It should always be the severity of the clime. Aggravated
robbery means that there was a weapon involved during the
commission of a robbery. This is that type of person
that you're supposed to be playing with.

Speaker 1 (03:18):
So what is what is before we let you go?
What is the status do you know of this particular
prison or is he he's out, he's out on a
PR bond. Is he on an ankle monitor? How is
he being monitored?

Speaker 2 (03:29):
First of all, is the ankle monitors are a joke? Right? YEA,
let's just start there. And however, yes, he's out. So
judge not a Cornelio from the three fifty first has
not said, oh my god, there's a scandal. Let me
bring the suspect back in and lock him up. No,
he is amongst us. He is in the community. And

(03:49):
before we go, I just want to say, it's like
drunk driving. When you get caught. It's not the first
time that you're driving drunk. This is the first time
you were caught. Can you imagine how many lobberies he
has committed that he never got caught?

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Born, Yeah, I can't imagine. You're right, and he'll probably
commit another one while he's out on his PR boond. Correct,
All right, April, thanks for joining us. Appreciate it. Crime
victim Advocate April A. Gary