DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF)- A Dallas County judge facing criticism after reducing bail for a murder suspect after the defense argued the suspect couldn’t afford it.
Judge Chika Anyiam decreased suspect Julio Guerrero’s bail from $2 million to $510,000. This 75% reduction would’ve allowed Guerrero to post $51,000 cash bond to be released from Dallas County jail.
After receiving backlash, Anyiam raised bail total to $1.1 millon. But the judge’s initial move to lower Guerrero’s bail prompted sharp criticism from Gov. Greg Abbott, Dallas Chief Eddie Garcia, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, and two Dallas police associations.
Guerrero faces charges of murder and multiple counts of aggravated assault for the shooting death of 35-year-old Francisco Villanueva Rodriguez as well as a road rage shooting gas station the following week that severely hurt a 3-year-old girl.
Police also said Guerrero shot at officers during an eight-hour standoff to take him into custody.
George Aranda, president of The Dallas National Latino law enforcement Organization is calling for Judge Anyiam to resign or for her to be removed claiming it’s a conflict of interest for her to preside over the case.
Aranda said the suspect’s attorney, Tom Cox gave Anyiam $5,000 in campaign contributions since 2015.
“Judge Anyiam clearly acted in conflict of interest by showing empathy for one of her strong supporters in her election campaign which is attorney Tom Cox,” said Aranda. “This is clearly an act of unethical behavior in her office,” he said.