A boy from Texas, who had been accused of murder, was released from custody after his bond was reduced from $800,000 to a mere $100 per charge.
On Saturday, 19-year-old Stephon Martin Morson was released from the Travis County Jail in Austin, Texas, after posting bail.
Morson is accused of killing Keshawn Cage, 20, by shooting him in the head. Cage was discovered deceased in October by police.
According to the Travis County Jail, Morson was arrested on November 6, 2024, and is facing charges of murder and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, as reported by Fox News Digital.
According to the initial report by CBS Austin, the bond for Morson was initially set at $800,000. However, it has now been reduced to $100 for each charge, resulting in a total bond amount of $200. As part of the conditions for his release, Morson is required to wear a GPS monitor, remain under house arrest, and refrain from contacting the victim’s family or potential witnesses.
According to Chief Michael Bullock of the Austin Police Association, Morson’s sentence was deemed insufficient.
According to Bullock, it is an insult to the people of Austin to lower a man’s bond so low that he can walk free on murder charges. He believes that this constant release of violent criminals back onto the streets of Austin is the exact reason why violent crime has gone up.
According to him, it is evident that the District Attorney, County Attorney, and Judges in this area demonstrate a lack of concern for the safety of Austinites and a reluctance to collaborate with law enforcement. Their priorities seem to lie solely in their own party agendas. It is distressing to witness criminals being released on bond, only to go on and commit further acts of violence while enjoying their freedom. It begs the question, when will this cycle of irresponsibility and negligence come to an end?
According to Bullock, courts and magistrates in Travis County have a history of reducing a person’s bond to the extent that they are unable to afford bail.
Bullock stated that this is not an isolated case, but rather a pattern that has been observed in multiple courts. He emphasized that there have been instances where individuals, who are already facing charges for violent crimes, are released on bond only to commit further offenses, including murder.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed his outrage over Morson’s release, deeming it utterly unacceptable.
In an X post, Abbott expressed his disbelief, stating, “I think this is crazy.” He emphasized the urgency of bail reform by making it an emergency item.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed his support for Gov. Abbott’s bail reform plan during a recent special session, emphasizing the need to prevent violent offenders from being released on bail. Patrick stated that he is prepared to take assertive action to ensure the safety of the community.
The bills successfully cleared their first major obstacle on Wednesday and are now on course to be enacted into law. The Senate Criminal Justice Committee gave their approval to the bills aimed at reforming the bail system, with a unanimous vote of 6-0.
“I’m glad Gov. Abbott made bail reform an emergency item for this session of the legislature.” Police officers and citizens who are not guilty have become targets of criminals because of excessive bail amounts that let dangerous criminals go free, Bullock said. “We are a nation of law and order, but activist judges and prosecutors that are interested in their own agenda rather than the law are eroding that principle.”
Crime victims’ rights organizations in Texas have been advocating for stricter bail laws for years, particularly for individuals who have committed heinous crimes. Rania Mankarious, the CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston, emphasizes that in the past, numerous offenders in Harris County were granted low or no bond. Tragically, some of these individuals went on to reoffend, at times with severe consequences.