BEAUMONT, TX – A Texas judge out of Jefferson County said he was “appalled” after reviewing the allegations against a 46-year-old man who is charged with assaulting a grandmother and tossing her and a 1-year-old infant out of a moving vehicle, raising the defendant’s bond over five times higher.
Jefferson County Criminal District Court Judge John Stevens did not mince words when he was reviewing the case of 46-year-old Brandon Lafleur who was previously out on bond regarding a September 2024 incident that resulted in him being charged with third-degree felony injury to a child.
According to the probable cause affidavit in Lafleur’s case, the defendant was allegedly embroiled in an argument with his significant other while driving a vehicle during the early morning hours of September 1st, 2024. Lafleur’s girlfriend was reportedly seated in the back of the vehicle with her 1-year-old granddaughter on her lap when Lafleur allegedly became angry and struck the woman in the face before forcing her out of the moving vehicle.
Thereafter, authorities claim Lafleur proceeded to hurl the infant from the moving vehicle as well, resulting in the 1-year-old sustaining injuries to her face which were reportedly consistent with road rash. Lafleur was out on a $15,000 bond while attending the announcement hearing, which are hearings typically utilized to ascertain next steps in a criminal prosecution, when Judge Stevens learned of the allegations in the case.
“I'm looking at this probable cause affidavit, and this is about one of the most disturbing things I've seen in my career. You're charged with a 3rd degree felony of Injury to a Child, and it alleges that you intentionally and knowingly caused bodily injury to child younger than 15 by shoving and pushing the child out of a moving automobile,” Judge Stevens said.
Lafleur reportedly responded to the judge that the probable cause affidavit consisted solely allegations and not verified facts, to which Judge Stevens briefly accosted the defendant for a perceived interruption before resuming his summary of the criminal complaint.
“So apparently, you had a paramour, girlfriend, who had a granddaughter who was in the car with you. While in the vehicle you and the lady began to argue. It is alleged that you struck her in the face causing pain and injury. You struck a lady. Who does that? It's so ungentlemanly,” Judge Stevens stated before expressing shock at the additional allegations of injuring an infant, stating, “Are you kidding me? You shoved a one-year-old infant out of a moving car?”
Lafleur reportedly denied the allegations before the judge, to which Judge Stevens emphasized that there was apparently enough evidence to result in his arrest and subsequent grand jury indictment. Judge Stevens opted to up Lafleur’s bond from $15,000 to $100,000 during the hearing, stating the severity of the allegations which have left him “appalled” warrant a higher bond in the case.
“This is one of the most disturbing probable cause affidavits I have read in my career, and I'm going to treat you like I would treat anybody in the same circumstance. Somebody charged with throwing a one-year-old out of a moving car and causing facial injuries is going to be held strictly accountable on my watch. So your bond is $100,000,” Judge Stevens stated.
Seemingly confused by the decreed higher bond amount, Lafleur reportedly asked the judge, “You say you're taking me into custody,” to which Judge Stevens confirmed he was being remanded into custody until he can post the updated bond amount.
If convicted on the child abuse charge, Lafleur could face up to ten years in state prison.
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