Judge cuts bond for Eleazar Stansbury to $500,000, imposes GPS and house-arrest conditions

A Jefferson County judge on Nov. 7 reduced the cash bond for Eleazar (Elazar) Stansbury from $1.5 million to $500,000 and imposed strict monitoring and residence conditions if he posts bond.

Defense counsel argued the original bond was excessive compared with other unindicted murder dockets and told the court Stansbury had been cooperative and called 911 after the incident. The prosecutor asked the court to consider detective testimony and urged caution about an immediate, substantial reduction.

After hearing from defense and the state, the judge granted the reduction but wrote a set of conditions into the order. The judge said: "I'm going to reduce the bond in this case to $500,000. Condition of that bond ... Will be required to wear a GPS monitoring device and be on house arrest other than for coming to court, and for visiting with your attorney." The order requires Stansbury to reside at 25419 Richton Falls Drive in Richmond, Texas, to wear GPS monitoring, remain on house arrest except for court and attorney visits, and ensures any firearms in the household be removed before release. The judge specified GPS activation would be required prior to release and that the bondsman would coordinate activation.

The court also noted that if the case is not received and indicted soon by the district attorney’s office the bond conditions would have to be revisited. The judge emphasized no-contact terms and proximity restrictions to the address involved in the alleged offense.

The reduction permits Stansbury to seek release under close monitoring but leaves substantive criminal issues unresolved; the district attorney may continue to pursue indictment and further litigation.