Judge Boyd orders full GPS house arrest after repeated GPS violations in Kevin Kenneth Deluze case

The 187th District Court ordered full GPS house arrest for Kevin Kenneth Deluze after a pretrial-services violation report documented repeated unauthorized stops, the court said.

Prosecutors told the court they were seeking a bond increase on the basis of the violations; defense counsel acknowledged the client had been making unauthorized stops and explained some of those stops were for job-search or essential needs. The pretrial report indicated repeated admonitions for unauthorized stops and documented multiple inclusion-zone entries.

Judge Stephanie Boyd said she would convert Deluze’s conditions to full GPS house arrest because the pretrial report showed the defendant was not following GPS rules. The judge told Deluze that if he can provide proof of employment and work hours to pretrial services, the court would reconsider allowing work-related travel on GPS. The judge also advised that if the defendant had trouble contacting his pretrial officer, he should come to the courthouse to address the issue before violating GPS rules.

The court explained that repeated violations can lead to a warrant or remand; in Deluze’s case the court ruled on the violation report by ordering full GPS and requiring the defense to supply proof of employment if they sought an exception for work. The court also said the state could subpoena witnesses or ask the pretrial officer to appear by Zoom; the transcript shows the court sustained a hearsay objection to certain testimony from an officer who was not the supervising pretrial officer, then proceeded to alter conditions based on the report presented.

The court told counsel to provide employment verification to pretrial services; if the defendant furnishes proof that pretrial services accepts, the court will consider a modification (employment-only GPS) at a later date.