Ex parte Kerr

Apr 6, 1977
Nos. 54246 and 54247
Reporters:
,
Before:
Douglas

OPINION

DOUGLAS, Judge.

These are appeals from orders in a habeas corpus proceeding seeking the reduction of ‍‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍bail after indictment but before trial. Both were charged with aggravated assault upon a peace officer. Both were, and still are, on parole from the Texas Department of ‍‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Corrections.

The father of the appellants testified that they could not make bail in the amount of $100,000 which had been assessed by the court but that each could make ‍‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍bail in the amount of $10,000.

The evidence does not show the circumstances surrounding the crime and there are no mitigating circumstances shown.

The testimony about their ability to make ‍‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍bail is not the sole criterion in setting bail. Ex parte Runo, 535 S.W.2d 188 (Tex.Cr.App.1976); Ex parte Sierra, 514 S.W.2d 760 (Tex.Cr.App.1974).

We hold that under the circumstances of these cases the bail is ‍‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍excessive and it is hereby reduced and is set in the sum of $20,000 each.