Travis County magistrate outlines rights, sets bonds and orders several personal releases

Judge Figarito, the magistrate judge presiding at a Travis County Court arraignment session, reviewed defendants’ constitutional rights and pretrial-release options and set bond amounts or personal-release conditions for several people arrested on a range of misdemeanor and felony allegations.

The advisement opened with Figarito telling those in custody, “I’m not here to decide whether you’re innocent or guilty,” and outlining their rights to remain silent, to consult an attorney before making decisions, and to request a court-appointed lawyer if they cannot afford one. The judge also described four ways defendants can leave custody: qualifying for a personal bond, paying the full bond in cash, using a bail bond company, or hiring an attorney to seek release.

The magistrate emphasized the practicalities of pretrial release: the court will consider the seriousness of charges, criminal history, references and past court attendance, and that bail bond companies in Travis County commonly charge about 10% of the bond amount. The judge also said defendants charged with felonies may request an examining trial (a preliminary hearing to test probable cause) and warned non-U.S. citizens that convictions can affect immigration status.

At the session the court took individual actions on defendants currently in custody. Outcomes and conditions announced by Figarito included personal bonds for some defendants, secured bonds or bail-bond requirements for others, and court-ordered conditions such as no-contact distances and firearms prohibitions.

Bonds and release decisions (at a glance)

- Adrian Smith — Charges: Class A misdemeanor (unlawful carrying of a weapon) and Class B misdemeanor (fleeing a police officer). Total bond set at $4,000. Judge Figarito granted personal bonds in Smith’s cases; Smith was advised to appear for all court dates. (Personal bond approved.)

- Armando Montero — Charge: Class A criminal trespass of a habitation. Bond set at $500. Judge Figarito granted a personal bond, noting a concern about Mr. Montero’s homelessness and instructing him to stay off the property that gave rise to the trespass charge. (Personal bond approved.)

- Derek Peterson — Charge: Class A misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury to a family or household member. Bond set at $1,000. The judge ordered staff to contact Peterson’s listed relatives to verify a place to stay and said she would “consider” personal bond if an interview and verification occur; for now the $1,000 bond stands and a 200-yard no-contact condition was imposed regarding the alleged victim. (Decision on personal bond deferred; bond set.)

- Christopher Powell — Charge: Class B misdemeanor indecent exposure (allegedly Aug. 30 at the airport). Bond set at $3,000. Powell was told he must have no contact with the alleged victim and must stay 200 yards away from the airport property at 36100 Presidential Boulevard while the case is pending. (Personal bond not granted; bond set.)

- Kendrick Thompson — Charges: Class B misdemeanors for terroristic threat and disorderly conduct (display of a firearm); total bond set at $6,000. The magistrate declined to grant a personal bond because of Thompson’s criminal record and explicitly ordered that, if released, Thompson must not possess firearms while the case is pending. (Personal bond not granted; bond set.)

- Emily Yaneth Ortiz Juarez — Charge: Third-degree felony deadly conduct (alleged discharge of a firearm). The court set the bond at $75,100 (as stated in court) and said she was not eligible for a personal bond; if a bail bond company accepts the case at a 10% fee it would charge around $7,510. The judge ordered that Ortiz may not possess firearms while the case is pending. (Personal bond not granted; bond set.)

- Alexander Thompson — Charge: Class A misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury to a family or household member. Bond set at $2,000. The magistrate said Thompson was not eligible for a personal bond because of pending felony aggravated-assault charges and other pending cases; a 200-yard no-contact condition with the alleged victim was imposed. (Personal bond not granted; bond set.)

Conditions and reminders

Figarito repeatedly warned defendants that failing to appear for court dates could lead to rearrest and make future release more difficult. Several defendants received court-ordered conditions as part of their release terms, commonly a 200-yard no-contact requirement with alleged victims and explicit prohibitions on possessing firearms while cases are pending. The judge told one defendant, “If you need to get personal belongings from over there and she’s there, have your wife or someone else go get your stuff for you and bring it to you,” to avoid breaching the no-contact condition.

Context and next steps

Defendants were told they could consult attorneys to seek personal bonds or other changes to release conditions; court-appointed attorneys were to be provided for those requesting them. The magistrate said attorneys could obtain police reports, witness statements and video evidence through standard discovery channels. Several release decisions were conditional (for example, pending staff verification of a stable address) and therefore may be revisited at the court’s discretion.

Quotes from the proceeding are taken from the court’s recorded advisement and individual bond calls. The session combined the magistrate’s general advisement about rights and pretrial options with individualized bond determinations that will affect defendants’ immediate custody status and conditions while their cases proceed in district or county court.