HOUSTON, TX - On Wednesday, February 26th, the Houston Police Officers' Union announced its disgrace for a local judge for her "indefensible decision" to set bond for a man charged with capital murder in the 2024 ambush death of a Harris County deputy.
Fox News reported that Judge Hilary Unger of the 248th District Criminal Court set bond at $1 million for Dremone Francis back in November 2024 in direct opposition to prosecutors' request for a no-bond hold. As of Wednesday, Francis has posted his bail and is out of jail. Francis is one of two men accused in the death of Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda. Francis has been charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence.
Unger set bail at $500,000 for each charge. Unger, who has been described by the Houston Police Officers' Union as "rogue," also set bond for the second suspect charged in th capital murder death of Esqueda. Fox News reported that Unger set bond at $3 million for Ronnie Palmer on Thursday, February 27th.
According to a court document shared by the Harris County Deputies' Organization (HCDO), Palmer has been in jail since July 2024 with no bond on that charge until now. In addition to the capital murder charge, he is also facing two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Esqueda's death. Bond for those charges was set at $50,000 each.
Unger's controversial move comes one day after Francis posted his $1 million bond. The HCDO criticize Unger on Wednesday when Francis was released from jail and came after her again on Thursday when she set bond for Palmer. HCDO wrote on X, "If you were outraged yesterday, just wait for what Judge Hilary Unger did today. A bond was set for Ronny (sic) Palmer, who is charged with murdering Deputy Fernando Esqueda. We are now beyond outraged, this is a disgrace."
HCDO also shared court documents showing where Unger set Palmer's bond for the charge of capital murder of a police officer at $3 million. Texas law allows for bond denial in capital murder cases. As of Thursday, Palmer remained in jail, but he now has the opportunity to post bail and return to the streets.
The union said, "This is not just a case of judicial incompetence. It is a disgraceful betrayal of public trust and a direct threat to every law-abiding citizen in Harris County. Let's be crystal clear: Francis was not just some low-level offender. He was an active participant in the cold-blooded ambush and execution of a law enforcement officer."
Following criticism from the community, a defense attorney said that Unger was not involved in setting bond for Francis, despite the Houston Police Officers' Union and HCDO saying that she was. Cheryl Irvin said in a statement, "They made it very difficult for the judge because she is not the one who had set the bond. The bond was set and nobody objected it from the district attorney's office from the previous administration."
While Palmer remains in jail, Francis is free to roam. In addition to his capital murder charge, Francis had previously been convicted of manufacturing and delivering drugs. He also had his probation "unsatisfactorily terminated" in 2022. The police union said that there have been 162 homicides in Harris County since 2021 where the suspect was out on bond when the murder took place. The union has accused Unger, who is up for re-election in 2026, of being an "activist judge who is gambling with public safety."
The union said, "This is not an isolated case. Judge Unger has a history of prioritizing criminals over victims, undermining law enforcement, and making our streets more dangerous. If we don't stop judges like her now, we will continue to see repeat offenders and violent criminals emboldened by a system that refuses to hold them accountable."
Irvin said in a statement, "People have rights. Regardless of what you think folks have done, you still have a right. One right is the 8th Amendment right to reasonable bail. And the reasonable bail was set for the codefendant, and he made the bail. Nobody should be objected to that. He's on house arrest and all the things the judge considered to be proper."
Fox News reported that Judge Hilary Unger of the 248th District Criminal Court set bond at $1 million for Dremone Francis back in November 2024 in direct opposition to prosecutors' request for a no-bond hold. As of Wednesday, Francis has posted his bail and is out of jail. Francis is one of two men accused in the death of Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda. Francis has been charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence.
Unger set bail at $500,000 for each charge. Unger, who has been described by the Houston Police Officers' Union as "rogue," also set bond for the second suspect charged in th capital murder death of Esqueda. Fox News reported that Unger set bond at $3 million for Ronnie Palmer on Thursday, February 27th.
According to a court document shared by the Harris County Deputies' Organization (HCDO), Palmer has been in jail since July 2024 with no bond on that charge until now. In addition to the capital murder charge, he is also facing two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Esqueda's death. Bond for those charges was set at $50,000 each.
Unger's controversial move comes one day after Francis posted his $1 million bond. The HCDO criticize Unger on Wednesday when Francis was released from jail and came after her again on Thursday when she set bond for Palmer. HCDO wrote on X, "If you were outraged yesterday, just wait for what Judge Hilary Unger did today. A bond was set for Ronny (sic) Palmer, who is charged with murdering Deputy Fernando Esqueda. We are now beyond outraged, this is a disgrace."
HCDO also shared court documents showing where Unger set Palmer's bond for the charge of capital murder of a police officer at $3 million. Texas law allows for bond denial in capital murder cases. As of Thursday, Palmer remained in jail, but he now has the opportunity to post bail and return to the streets.
The union said, "This is not just a case of judicial incompetence. It is a disgraceful betrayal of public trust and a direct threat to every law-abiding citizen in Harris County. Let's be crystal clear: Francis was not just some low-level offender. He was an active participant in the cold-blooded ambush and execution of a law enforcement officer."
Following criticism from the community, a defense attorney said that Unger was not involved in setting bond for Francis, despite the Houston Police Officers' Union and HCDO saying that she was. Cheryl Irvin said in a statement, "They made it very difficult for the judge because she is not the one who had set the bond. The bond was set and nobody objected it from the district attorney's office from the previous administration."
While Palmer remains in jail, Francis is free to roam. In addition to his capital murder charge, Francis had previously been convicted of manufacturing and delivering drugs. He also had his probation "unsatisfactorily terminated" in 2022. The police union said that there have been 162 homicides in Harris County since 2021 where the suspect was out on bond when the murder took place. The union has accused Unger, who is up for re-election in 2026, of being an "activist judge who is gambling with public safety."
The union said, "This is not an isolated case. Judge Unger has a history of prioritizing criminals over victims, undermining law enforcement, and making our streets more dangerous. If we don't stop judges like her now, we will continue to see repeat offenders and violent criminals emboldened by a system that refuses to hold them accountable."
Irvin said in a statement, "People have rights. Regardless of what you think folks have done, you still have a right. One right is the 8th Amendment right to reasonable bail. And the reasonable bail was set for the codefendant, and he made the bail. Nobody should be objected to that. He's on house arrest and all the things the judge considered to be proper."
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Comments
2025-03-01T20:12-0500 | Comment by: Melvin
Another judge that refuses to do their job for the safety of the public,
2025-03-01T20:12-0500 | Comment by: Melvin
Another judge that refuses to do their job for the safety of the public,
2025-03-01T20:34-0500 | Comment by: Richard
Recall.
2025-03-01T20:50-0500 | Comment by: James
Deputy probably deserved getting ambushed, IF he was ambushed at all .... I wouldn't believe ANYTHING that came out of a Houston area pigs mouth .... Not since the Tuttle and Nicholas MURDERS by Houston pigs and cover up and the lying sack of filth and feces joe gimaldi .....