HOUSTON – City Councilman Michael Kubosh has filed a Judicial Bar Grievance for 156 victims he says was killed because of Harris County district judges not protecting the public by setting a low or free bond on violent defendants. At a news conference held Friday, Kubosh detailed his concerns.
Kubosh explained that state law requires a judge to consider the safety of the public when setting a bond. He said many judges have failed the families of the victims.
The filing comes days after a 17-year-old murder suspect, who is accused of shooting a 16-year-old girl 22 times, was granted a $250,000 bond and released after posting bail.
“We’re tired of the violence in our community, we are tired of the murders in our community,” Kubosh said.
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Officials and local preachers read the names of each victim who was killed. Kubosh said that the names are notable because they were killed by someone who was free on bond with a violent criminal history. The councilman is personally filing the grievance on the behalf of the victims himself and is willing to help more families who reach out to him by emailing him at michaelkubosh@gmail.com.
The grievance was filed in hopes of sending a strong message to judges -- to pay attention and be careful with their decisions. He said there should be consequences when judges release these violent criminals on low or free bonds. He said judges should have to answer to the public on why they released suspects.
“I’m concerned this is going to continue and we must send a strong message,” Kubosh said.
The goal is to keep citizens safe.
“I believe if a person is violent, they should not receive a bond at all,” he said.
On the same day as Kubosh’s press conference, a jury sat in the deliberation of 31-year-old David Cruz. Cruz is charged with murder in the death of 27-year-old Christian Tristan in August 2019.
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“You charged him with murder and you released him,” said Ruth Tristan, mother of the victim.
Tristan was upset that Cruz was released on a personal recognizance bond with a $1,200 fee.
According to court documents, Cruz had a lengthy criminal record prior to the death of Tristan.
Cruz was later put back in jail after he violated the conditions of his PR bond, by missing curfews and not following electronic monitoring rules.
His murder trial is now underway in 180th District Court.
