Latest news with #CrimeStoppersofHouston
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bail Reform Victory In Texas Answers Victims' Calls For Justice
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott traveled to Crime Stoppers of Houston on Tuesday to sign four bail reform bills into law. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, bail reform has been a major focus for Abbott during the most recent legislature, claiming in April that it is a 'deadly and broken bail system.' The bail reform package signed into law by Abbott included Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 40, House Bill 75, and Senate Joint Resolution 5. allows prosecutors to file appeals for bail that is provided to alleged criminals who commit certain crimes while also allowing only elected judges to reduce the conditions of bail set by another elected judge. Meanwhile, prohibits using state funding to help support any nonprofit that helps provide bail to criminals. was designed to encourage transparency throughout the early portions of the criminal process. Magistrates will now be required to provide a written explanation about why an arrest was conducted without probable cause. Finally, Senate Joint Resolution 5 amends the Texas Constitution and requires judges to deny bail for criminals who commit the worst crimes. The state must prove that the defendant would be a threat to society or would not show up for future trials. Abbott said while signing these bills that the state was dealing with a 'revolving door bail system that repeatedly released dangerous criminals back onto the streets.' 'To the victims and their families, today your pain is answered. Not only are we signing laws that correct the wrongs, your efforts have led to a rewriting of the Constitution of the State of Texas to ensure criminals like those who harmed your families will never be out on the loose again,' he added, according to The Office of Gov. Abbott. Abbott was joined during this event by Aimee Castillo, who has become a bail reform advocate after her brother was murdered by a criminal who was out on bail. Castillo spoke during the event and echoed many of Abbott's comments, calling the previous bail system a 'revolving door' that allowed criminals to walk the streets. 'There is something deeply, tragically wrong with a system that gives repeat, violent felony offenders chance after chance, while families like mine are given a life sentence of grief. I am proud to have played a small role in getting these bills passed, and I am proud to tell my brother he became a catalyst for change,' she added, per The Office of Gov. Abbott. Abbott was also joined at this event by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Chairwoman Joan Huffman, Chairman John Smithee, Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO Rania Makarious, and Crime Stoppers of Houston Director of Victim Services and Advocacy Andy Kahan.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
4 bail reform bills signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
The Brief Gov. Abbott signed four bail reform bills into law Tuesday Reform advocates and crime victims' family members joined Abbott at the signing Two bail ban proposals were blocked by Democrats during the legislative session HOUSTON - With his signature, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott completed what was described as "a day of reckoning." Four bail reform items were signed by Abbott in Houston on Tuesday, completing a major judicial rewrite. What we know SB 9 provides the most substantial reform. The legislation restricts the use of cashless bonds and allows prosecutors to appeal a judge's decision to grant bail. SJR 5 authorizes a public vote on a constitutional amendment. If passed in November, bail could be denied to people charged with violent crimes, especially repeat offenders. Gov. Abbott called it a travesty that the criminal justice system gives offenders the opportunity to go back to their lives, while victims and their families can never go back. What they're saying "For all of us, this was a resounding call to action. And now today we stand on the verge of real lasting change. Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 40, House Bill 75, especially SJR 5, the proposed constitutional amendment, represent more than a policy shift. They are promises kept. Promises to victims that their voices mattered, promises to families that we heard their pain, promises to Texans that we will not let violent offenders turn our communities into revolving doors of danger," said Rania Mankarious with Crime Stoppers of Houston. Among those who joined the governor for Tuesday's signing ceremony were several crime victims. Aimee Castillo spoke about her brother who was killed by a repeat offender. The man, according to Castillo, was out on bond. "And as if losing Josh wasn't enough, we were forced to endure even more injustice when we encountered the revolving door at the Harris County courthouse. This man charged with a capital murder while out on multiple felony bonds was offered another bond. How is this possible? How is it justice? There is something deeply tragically wrong with this system that gives repeat violent felony offenders chance after chance while families like mine are given a life sentence of grief," said Castillo. Dig deeper During the session, Democrats successfully blocked two bail ban proposals. State Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso) explained why he opposed allowing a public vote on SJR 87 during a debate on May 27. "We know that a few people may have been saved. That's true. Then why not do it for everything? Why not lock up all people accused of crimes indefinitely for fear that they may do something? I guarantee a handful of lives will be saved by doing that, too. But at what cost? The cost of our liberty. The cost to the state inflicting immense, life-destroying punishment on people who haven't been convicted of anything, literally regardless of what the strength of the current charges are. The cost, absolutely, members, to our taxpayers who will foot the bill for detaining these people without due process," said Rep. Moody. On Tuesday, Lt. Gov Dan Patrick called out those who blocked the bail proposals that failed. "We've called out names of judges who don't even work and let murderers out. I want the voters in these districts to call their Democrat members and say Alma Allen, Anna Hernandez, Anne Johnson, Morales, Rosenthal, Simmons, Thompson, Wally, Ward. Hubert Vo, Gene Wu, where are those Democrats, to not stand for the crime victims in this county and in this city," said Patrick. Patrick urged residents of Harris County to contact those lawmakers. "Voters, they are the ones still letting illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes out and they're still the ones letting people who are citizens of this country out on the streets to kill again," said Patrick. What's next Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick promised to bring back the items that failed, but they did not commit to calling a special session for that to happen. The Source Information in this report comes from reporting by FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski. This story was reported from Austin.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Abbott signs bail reform in to law in Houston
HOUSTON (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bail reform bill in Houston Tuesday surrounded by elected officials, bail reform advocates and victims' families. The signing began at 2 p.m. at Crime Stoppers of Houston, with several state officials who attended, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state Sen. Joan Huffman, state Rep. John Smithee, Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO Rania Mankarious, Crime Stoppers of Houston Director of Victim Services and Advocacy Andy Kahan and others. House supports Abbott's bail priorities—minus ban on bail for undocumented people Although the Texas House overwhelmingly voted to support bail reform, the chamber did not pass a proposed element that would have automatically denied bail for people who were illegally in the country and charged with certain felonies. The House voted 122-20 to advance an amended version of Senate Bill 9, which encompasses bail reducing personal bond options. It requires judges to review appointed magistrates bond amounts, as well as allows prosecutors to protest bond decisions. Jocelyn's Law fails to earn enough votes in Texas House Then, the House voted 133-8 advance an amended version of Senate Joint Resolution 5, a proposed constitutional amendment requiring judges to deny bail for certain felony charges if judges feel the accused is either a flight risk or a threat to the community. Last, the House voted 88-50 to advance an amended version of Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would deny bail for those accused for 'illegal aliens' charged with certain felonies. However, the resolution fell 13 votes shy of the 100 votes needed to pass the Texas House. SJR 1, also known as 'Jocelyn's Law,' is named after 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston. She was allegedly killed by a pair of men illegally in the country last year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Houston crime: Man caught on camera beating elderly disabled man charged with new felony while out on bond
The Brief Trayvion Lockridge, who was out on reduced bond, is now charged with aggravated assault involving a gun. He was previously caught on video beating a 67-year-old man with Alzheimer's. His co-defendant remains jailed; defense calls new charge "bad faith." What we know HOUSTON - A man previously charged in the brutal beating and robbery of a 67-year-old man with Alzheimer's is now facing new felony charges after allegedly threatening a woman with a gun in a separate incident, while out on bond in the first. Trayvion Lockridge, who was caught on video in December 2023 punching and stomping Florentino Hurtado outside a north Houston grocery store, is now charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The December 23 attack left Hurtado with serious injuries, including a fractured cheekbone and stitches in multiple areas, according to his family. His daughter, Jessica Hurtado, said then her father was confused and accidentally tried to get into the wrong car. "We're already dealing with a lot of Alzheimer's, and anyone who has family dealing with dementia knows it's a lot," she said earlier. "So the fact that this had to happen is just sad. It's really sad. My father did not deserve this at all." According to charging documents filed April 11 by the Harris County District Attorney's Office, Lockridge got into an argument with a woman outside a convenience store on April 10. He allegedly fired a gun at the ground near her feet and pointed another firearm directly at her. Prosecutors say the woman later identified Lockridge using a news photo. The backstory The new charges come almost exactly a year after Lockridge posted bond and was released from jail. Despite prosecutors initially recommending a $1 million bond following the December attack, a judge set the bond at $50,000. In March 2024, that bond was lowered further to $20,000. Lockridge was released in April 2024. "And of course, he gets out and now he's wanted again," said Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers of Houston. "You've got the main culprit who not only has his bond reduced, gets out, but now has another violent felony as well – you really can't explain that." Lockridge's co-defendant in the December incident, Derodrick Stephens, has remained behind bars with his bail denied. The other side Defense attorney Perry Bass, who represents Lockridge, says the new charges are not credible and believes his client is being falsely accused. "I don't think he has any firearms or ammo. If somebody did that, it was somebody else," Bass said. "We don't think it's a credible complaint – it's bad faith." He says he has reason to believe the complaining victim in the 2025 case is connected to Stephens and has been harassing Lockridge. When asked if Lockridge will turn himself in, Bass replied, "we're going to work on it, we'll get it processed." FOX 26 reached out to the Harris County District Attorney for comment on the status of the 2023 case and have yet to hear back. The Source Charging documents filed April 11, 2025, video footage of the 2023 assault, 2023 victim's daughter Jessica Hurtado, Andy Kahan, Crime Stoppers of Houston, Perry Bass, Defense attorney for Trayvion Lockridge
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
Houston crime: Man wanted for 2022 child assault case
The Brief Milton Hernandez Valle, 39, is wanted for two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Officials say Ville assaulted two juveniles on June 15, 2022. Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to Valle's location and arrest. A $5,000 reward is being offered to help Houston officials find a man who is accused of sexually assaulting children in 2022. What we know The alleged assault happened on June 15, 2022, in the 6900 block of Renwich Drive. While Houston police were investigating the case, detectives learned that 39-year-old Milton Hernandez Valle sexually assaulted the victims, according to Crime Stoppers. Valle is charged with two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of Child (Under 14). Valle is described as a Hispanic male who is 5' 8" tall and weighs about 175 pounds. Officials say he has brown eyes and black hair. What you can do Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging &/or arrest of the suspects in this case. Information may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitted online at or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. Only tips and calls directly to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and eligible for a cash reward. The Source Crime Stoppers of Houston
