Travis County magistrate grants some personal bonds, sets cash bonds and conditions for others

Judge Bigarito presided over a Travis County magistrate session in which she read criminal defendants their rights, described release options and either granted personal bonds or set cash bond amounts and conditions for multiple arrestees.

The magistrate opened the session by telling those in custody, “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,” and walked through four release options: a personal bond, payment of the full cash bond, using a bail bond company, or hiring an attorney to seek bond relief.

Why it matters: Magistrate hearings determine whether people in custody can leave jail before formal court proceedings. Decisions in this session included both immediate releases on a defendant’s promise to appear and cash bonds with supervision or program conditions that could affect defendants’ daily lives while cases proceed.

The most consequential outcomes included: - A personal bond (release without paying money) for Alvaro Alvarez Gonzalez on a class A misdemeanor DWI charge; the magistrate told him he would be released the same day and must appear at all scheduled court dates. - A $6,000 cash bond set for Javier Olivares Ponce on a third-degree felony charge of assault on a pregnant person; the magistrate said the law does not allow a personal bond in felony domestic-violence cases, so he must post cash, use a bondsman or pursue a bond-reduction hearing through an attorney. - Personal bonds for Juan Segura on a third-degree felony possession charge combined with a class B misdemeanor related to a suspended license; Segura was ordered to be screened for the county drug-court program, attend required drug-counseling screenings and continue reporting to his Bastrop probation officer. - A personal bond for Jason Lawson on a class A misdemeanor DWI, with conditions that he install an ignition interlock device within 30 days of release and be screened for alcohol counseling; Travis County Pretrial Services must be contacted within three days to arrange the interlock process. - A $30,000 bond set for Leo Bardo Nunez Bolanos on a second-degree assault charge (surety option discussed; bond companies typically charge about 10%); Bolanos was warned he must have no contact with the alleged victim and, if released through a surety, will have reporting requirements imposed by the bond company. - A $25,000 bond for Dwayne Washington on a first-degree aggravated-robbery charge; the magistrate said personal bond is not allowed for a case of that seriousness and ordered a no-contact condition with the alleged victim and a 200-yard exclusion from 1500 East Palmer Lane.

Magistrate instructions and conditions repeated across several cases included: mandatory screening for drug- or alcohol-counseling where applicable; reporting to a supervision officer or probation officer; and, when applicable, installation of an ignition interlock device within 30 days. The magistrate advised each defendant that failure to appear would result in rearrest and forfeiture or collection action on posted cash bonds.

On process, the magistrate explained how bond options work in Travis County: a personal bond releases a defendant without payment based on a promise to appear; posting the full bond amount in cash or cashier’s check secures release and is refundable at case end if the defendant appears; and commercial bail companies commonly charge about 10% of the bond amount. The magistrate also told defendants that attorneys can ask for bond reductions from a district judge but noted statutory limits on personal bonds for certain felony categories.

The session included routine logistical exchanges — defendants confirming employment or family contacts, requests for court-appointed counsel, and limited interpreter assistance — and concluded with the magistrate reminding defendants to follow bond conditions and appear for all court dates.