Opinion
Judge Hilary Unger of the 248th District Criminal Court of Houston, TX has controversially set bond at $1 million for suspected murderer Dremone Francis. Unger’s decision to set bond back in November 2024 comes in direct opposition to prosecutors’ request for a no-bond hold. As of Wednesday, Francis has posted bail and has been released from incarceration.
Dremone Francis is the second suspect charged with capital murder in the death of Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda. Esqueda was shot and killed from ambush after locating a vehicle associated with a suspect wanted for aggravated assault. Francis and his co-defendant, Ronald Palmer, 44, were accused of shooting the deputy’s squad car after Esqueda responded to reports that Palmer had gotten into an argument with a Little Caesars employee and had pistol whipped him over an incorrect order.
Because of the gravity of Dremone Francis’charge , Judge Unger’s decision to allow bond is an unsympathetic and cruel message to send to the Harris County Police Department, Deputy Esqueda’s family, and all law enforcement officials. Section 20 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure authorizes a judge or magistrate to deny bond to suspects in capital murder cases, and Unger’s decision to bypass this to set bond is a slap in the face to all those who work to protect their communities.
Unger, who is up for re-election in 2026, is notorious for allowing repeat offenders out on bond and she ran her previous election campaigns on prioritizing “alternatives to incarceration with an eye towards rehabilitation, a reduction in recidivism, and an increase in community safety,” according to her campaign website. But the Houston Police Union are outraged at this most recent decision, and have harshly criticized her for allowing a suspected cop killer to walk free on the streets. The police union stated that the decision was a “disgraceful betrayal of public trust,” and that 162 homicides have been committed in Harris County since 2021 by suspects out on bond alone, according to the report.
In order to stand behind our law enforcement officers, it is necessary that we prevent individuals such as Unger from allowing criminals to continue to wreak havoc on their communities. It is inexcusable that Unger prioritizes criminals over the safety and well-being of her district’s first responders. There seems to be a denial of a set standard by Unger and other Judges who work harder to reintegrate criminals into society in the name of reform, instead of focusing on building a stronger community which champions police officers and their necessary place within our structures. We must continue to “Back the Badge” in every way possible, and elect those who promise to do the same.
