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Judge denies motion to quash, refuses bond reduction in Michelle Cormier indictment
Summary
In a hearing on charges tied to a fentanyl-related death, the judge denied a defense motion to quash the indictment and refused to reduce Michelle Cormier’s $500,000 bond, leaving the case on the trial docket.
A judge in the 252nd District Court denied a defense motion to quash an indictment against Michelle Cormier and refused a request to reduce her $500,000 bond, leaving her case set for the trial docket.
The court considered a motion to quash that challenged the indictment’s mens rea requirement under the statutory language referenced by defense counsel. The judge said the indictment alleges that Cormier “knowingly deliver[ed] a controlled substance, namely fentanyl,” and denied the motion to quash, saying the statute and the indictment require a showing that the defendant acted knowingly.
The judge also took up a separate bond-reduction application. After testimony under oath, including questioning about finances and prior convictions, the judge said, citing the criteria in Section 17.15, she would deny the petition to reduce bond and keep the $500,000 amount in place. The judge explained that “based on the information that I have, the nature of the offense, I’m going to deny the petition or the request for a reduction in bond.”
Defense counsel noted that discovery and an expert report remain outstanding; the judge reset the case for an announcement and said trial preparation would proceed if no new agreement is reached. The judge instructed that if new information surfaced from either side, the parties could bring that forward; otherwise defense counsel would begin trial preparation for the next available docket.
Transcript excerpts show the judge explaining the statutory reading and the effect on the indictment and pointed to the limited exception for authorized medical conduct, while defense counsel argued constitutional and mens rea concerns. The court rejected constitutional arguments on the record and said it would “follow [the statute] as written.”
The hearing included testimony from Cormier under oath about her family and ability to post bond; she said her family could produce about $100,000. The court acknowledged the defendant’s prior felony convictions noted in the indictment, described the potential habitual-offender consequences if convicted at trial, and refused to alter the bond at this appearance.
The judge scheduled the case for placement on the trial docket and ordered counsel to proceed accordingly. No plea was entered at this hearing.
