Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Criminal Justice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Judge lowers bail in two murder cases, orders GPS monitoring and house confinement
Summary
At hearings in the 252nd District Court, the judge reduced bonds in the cases of Nurburg Freelow Jr. and Ava Musgrove and imposed GPS monitoring and house-confinement conditions; the courtroom heard testimony about finances, investigative findings and public-safety concerns.
At a session of the 252nd District Court, the judge granted partial relief to defendants in two separate murder cases, lowering monetary bail and adding electronic-monitoring and house-confinement conditions.
The court reduced the bond for Nurburg Freelow Jr., charged with murder in cause 25 DCCR 0366, from $1,000,000 to $750,000 and ordered house confinement with GPS monitoring if the bond is posted. The court made the change after hearing testimony from Freelow’s wife, Nicole Freelow, and from private investigator Ranger Brandon Bess, who had been retained to review discovery. Nicole Freelow told the court that a professional surety company quoted a fee of “a hundred thousand dollars” to post a $1,000,000 bond and that the couple lacked available cash or property to secure such a premium. Bess gave the court his assessment of the investigation and, when asked whether he believed this was “a case of actual innocence,” answered, “I do.” The prosecutor opposed lowering bail, arguing $1,000,000 was necessary to protect the community; the judge said she had reviewed the probable-cause affidavit and the courtroom filings before granting the reduction.
In a separate hearing, the court lowered bond for Ava Musgrove, charged with murder in cause 25 DCCR 0048, from $800,000 to $500,000 and likewise required GPS monitoring and home confinement as conditions of release. Musgrove and her counsel told the court she lacked significant assets and that family members could produce only small amounts to assist with any bond. The court cited the record, testimony and the court file in making its decision and set the case for additional scheduling.
Both orders require the defendants to wear GPS devices and to remain on house confinement unless the court later modifies conditions. The court said it would move both cases forward on the next available docket for the parties to prepare for further proceedings.
Prosecutors in both matters argued that lower bonds would not adequately secure appearance or protect the community. Defense counsel and witnesses focused on the defendants’ financial inability to satisfy high commercial surety premiums and on investigative material the defense said weakens the state’s timeline and theory. The judge noted she had reviewed the court files and affidavits before announcing each ruling.
