Magistrate sets bonds, grants personal releases and issues emergency protective order at Travis County arraignment

Magistrate Judge Figarito presiding in Travis County Court reviewed defendants' constitutional rights, explained four ways to obtain release, set bond amounts for multiple people and, in several cases, granted personal bonds with conditions. In one case the judge issued an emergency protective order lasting two months.

The hearing began with Figarito telling the assembled defendants, "I'm not here to decide whether you're innocent or guilty. I'm just here to explain your charges, your rights, and your options on how to get out of jail." He summarized available release paths: a personal bond, paying the full bond amount in cash, using a bail bondsman (commonly charging about 10 percent in Travis County), or hiring an attorney to advocate for release.

Why it matters: bond decisions determine who is released before trial and under what conditions. Several releases included no-contact and geographic restrictions intended to protect alleged victims; one case included a time-limited emergency protective order and a firearm prohibition.

Key actions and outcomes

Hannah Stipek — charged with a Class A misdemeanor criminal mischief — had a $3,000 bond set but was granted a personal bond and released without paying. Conditions: no contact with the alleged victim (by phone, text, email or social media), maintain a 200-yard distance from the victim, and stay at least 200 yards away from…