'We're tired': Houston city councilman's grievance blasts judges over bail reform

Houston City Councilman Michael Kubosh filed a grievance on Jan. 21 on behalf of 156 people who were allegedly killed by violent offenders out on free or low bond.

At a press conference in which Kubosh was joined by local officials and clergy, the at-large councilmember decried the rising violence and criticized Harris County’s district judges.

Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that Kubosh’s Judicial Bar Grievance accused the judges of failing to adhere to their responsibility of considering the safety of the public when setting a bond for a suspect.

“We’re tired of the violence in our community, we are tired of the murders in our community,” he said, according to KPRC.

The station additionally reported that the councilman filed the grievance after a 17-year-old male accused of shooting a 16-year-old girl more than 20 times was granted a $250,000 bond and released after posting bail.

Authorities allege Frank Deleon Jr. gunned down his girlfriend Diamond Alvarez on Jan. 11 while she walked her dog in southwest Houston.

KPRC reported that Deleon’s bond was set at $250,000 but he bonded out of jail a week after the incident.

The girl’s mother, Anna Machado, told the station Deleon “was angry” at her daughter, who was a sophomore and honor student at Madison High School.

Kubosh offered assistance to each of the 156 victims’ families, urging them to contact him at michaelkubosh@gmail.com.

According to Houston CBS affiliate KHOU, Kubosh’s grievance seeks sanctions against district and criminal judges who released violent repeat offenders on bond.

Houston has been experiencing rising homicide figures in the last two years, with 2022 appearing to be no different.

The Houston Daily reported that more than 20 homicides have been reported in the city within the first two weeks of the current year.