A judge in Texas, known to be controversial and labeled as an activist by the Houston Police Officers’ Union, is facing criticism for setting bond for the second suspect accused of capital murder in the case of Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda.
Judge Hilary Unger from the 248th District Criminal Court in Harris County decided on a $3 million bond for Ronnie Palmer, as reported in a document from the Harris County Deputies’ Organization (HCDO). Palmer had previously been held in jail without bond since July on the capital murder charge.
Besides the capital murder allegation, Palmer is also charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon related to Esqueda’s death, with a bond of $50,000 set for each of those charges.
Unger’s controversial move comes one day after the other suspect in Esqueda’s murder, Dremone Francis, was released from jail after he posted the $1 million bond set in November 2024.
Following blowback from the community, a defense attorney told FOX 26 Houston on Thursday that Unger was not involved in setting bond for Francis, despite the Houston Police Officers’ Union and the HCDO saying that she was.
“They made it very difficult for the judge because she is not the one who had set the bond,” said Cheryl Irvin. “The bond was set and nobody objected to it from the district attorney’s office from the previous administration.”
Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda was shot and killed in July 2024 in an ambush attack, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at the time. (Harris County Sheriff)
Local outlets reported that the State of Texas filed for a proof-evident hearing when Francis was arrested in July 2024, which would’ve made no bond an option. That hearing was supposed to happen within 10 days, but since it didn’t, Francis became eligible for bond and his attorney requested it be set. It’s not clear why the state did not proceed with the hearing.
“People have rights. Regardless of what you think folks have done, you still have a right. One right is the 8th amendment right to reasonable bail. And the reasonable bail was set for the codefendant, and he made the bail,” Irvin said to FOX 26. “Nobody should be objected to that. He’s on house arrest and all the things the judge considered to be proper.”
Capital murder suspect Dremone Francis was released from jail in Harris County, Texas, on Wednesday after posting the $1 million bond set for him in November 2024. (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)
Unger, who is up for re-election in 2026, is known for letting repeat offenders out on bond and ran her election campaigns on prioritizing “alternatives to incarceration with an eye towards rehabilitation, a reduction in recidivism, and an increase in community safety,” according to her campaign website.
“This is not an isolated case. Judge Unger has a history of prioritizing criminals over victims, undermining law enforcement, and making our streets more dangerous,” the police union said. “If we don’t stop judges like her now, we will continue to see repeat offenders and violent criminals emboldened by a system that refuses to hold them accountable.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and the 248th District Court for comment.
