The Houston Chronicle is not too far from the Austin Chronicle when it comes to anti-death penalty sentiment.

Hence my confusion.

Violating your probation by shooting at a car and hitting an infant = release on personal bond? Would this happen anywhere else?

Man accused of shooting baby in ankle is released on bond

Paul Rodriguez was on probation when he fired into car during fight with ex-girlfriend.

By Steven Kreytak
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Friday, July 11, 2008

An 18-year-old father accused of shooting his 1-year-old daughter in the ankle during a dispute with the baby's mother last week was released from jail on personal bond Thursday despite the objections of prosecutors, who call him dangerous and a flight risk.

State District Judge Charlie Baird released Paul Estevan Rodriguez on a personal bond that requires him to pay no money upfront. If he does not return for his future court dates, Baird could order him to pay $50,000.

And there's more; for all the details, click here:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/07/11/0711rodriguez.html

Make sure you read the first comment after the article on the newspaper site.

The Lizard Man is innocent!

The first comment after the article is dead on. And who has ever heard of a 2 day bond hearing???
And why would they be going into the facts of the case at a bond hearing??? Maybe I'm confused and don't understand Travis County law.

A good tongue lashing by the Judge will teach that defendant a lesson!

Don't you just love judges who believe that violent criminals are receptive to stern talking-tos. After all, being arrested, confined and prosecuted a time or two has had no effect. So let's try wagging a finger. Ugh!

I know a judge who is fond of saying, "If the clanging of the jailhouse door doesn't straighten them out, nothing will." Truer words have never been spoken.

While it's true that the first comment was the most accurate, I found the 5th comment the most appropriate. This was definitely a Candy Mountain decision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPONTneuaF4

As with so many things in this world, it's the difference between hard and soft power.

Why do you need a 2 day bond hearing after you hear a jail phone call that says, "I'm going to run when I get out"????????

No prison for woman who admits stealing $1 million
Judge said victim stands better chance of getting paid with probation.
By Steven Kreytak

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Barbee Tunnell walked into a Travis County courtroom Monday prepared to plead guilty and accept a nine-year prison sentence for embezzling more than $1 million from her former employer. State District Judge Charlie Baird had another idea.

"I'd rather give you probation than send you to prison," he told Tunnell, a former accountant for Applied Products Inc., an Austin procurement services company. Baird noted that if Tunnell goes to prison, she won't have a chance to repay the money she stole, would have a tough time getting a job upon her release and would be absent for some important years of her teenage son's life.

After Tunnell, 51, agreed that she would seek substance abuse counseling and attempt to make restitution, Baird sentenced her to 10 years deferred adjudication, a form of probation.

For the rest of the article, click below:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/07/22/0722tunnell.html

There ought to be a picture for this one. What does a person look like who used up $1 million worth of meth?

Reminds me of a local County Court judge who talked a defendant out of accepting the State's offer of time-served for her prostitution charge. He really didn't want her to have a conviction on her record, so he persuaded her to accept a year of deferred adjudication. Next thing you know she's violated probation and the same judge sentenced her to something like 6 months in jail. Boy, he really helped her out.

Awesome!

And that's how someone like that would look on a good day!

JAS

[This message was edited by JAS on 07-23-08 at .]

The person in that picture has far too many teeth to have used that much meth.

Good point, Martin.

A bad set of dentures?

We got totally lied to by our album covers, man.

King: Put them in the iron maiden!

Bill & Ted: Iron Maiden? Excellent! [Add air guitar riff]

King: Execute them!

Bill & Ted: Bogus.