MCKINNEY, Texas — (WFAA) – A Collin County judge on Monday significantly reduced track meet stabbing suspect Karmelo Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000 and also placed him under house arrest.
Anthony, a 17-year-old student at Frisco Centennial High School, was arrested and charged with murder in the death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf April 2 at the UIL District 11-5A championship track meet at Frisco ISD’s Kuykendall Stadium.
Judge Angela Tucker of the 199th District Court in Collin County made the ruling Monday to reduce Anthony’s bond amount and also add several conditions, should he post bond.
Under his new bond conditions, Anthony, who appeared at the hearing in a yellow jumpsuit, would be required to wear an ankle monitor and ask permission to leave his home. It wasn’t yet clear when, or if, Anthony would post bond under the new bond amount and conditions. If Anthony violates any conditions of his bond, he would have to return to jail.
Anthony’s father testified as a witness at the hearing Monday, and about ten people attended the hearing in support of Anthony.
Metcalf’s family was also present, including his dad, grandfather, aunt and mother, who wore a gold ribbon and No. 11 pin.
Anthony was represented by Dallas defense attorney Mike Howard at the hearing. Howard initially asked the court to reduce the bond amount to $150,000.
The judge said she considered several factors, including Anthony’s age, lack of past criminal history, citizenship and close ties to the community when setting the new bond amount.
Collin County Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye argued that the Anthony family raised enough money through the crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo, where the family has raised about $415,000, to pay the $1 million bond.
Anthony’s father testified that the family currently does not have access to the money raised. He added that he is the sole provider for his family and the notoriety surrounding the case is forcing his family to move to a new home. The moving costs and the cost of providing for his wife and four children prevents the family from being able to pay the $1 million bond, he said.
When asked by the judge if he understood the terms of his bond, Anthony replied, “Yes.”
Anthony was the captain of his school’s football and track teams and worked two jobs at Foot Locker and HEB in Frisco, his father testified.
After he was apprehended, police said Anthony admitted to the stabbing and claimed he was defending himself against Metcalf, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by WFAA.
The $1 million bond first set for Anthony seemed high compared to other homicide cases, Daryl Washington, a high-profile trial attorney based in Dallas, said ahead of the bond hearing.
“When you have a bail amount that comes out that high, it gives the community the thought that perhaps there is some evidence out there that suggests this person is guilty,” Washington said.
Anthony retained a new defense attorney ahead of a scheduled court appearance, the Next Generation Action Network, which is advocating for Anthony, announced. Anthony was previously represented by attorneys Billy Clark and Kim T. Cole, WFAA previously reported.
It’s fairly common to see a change in attorneys as a trial develops, Washington said.
The case has garnered national attention and has been embroiled in controversy since the stabbing occurred April 2.
Frisco PD warned residents against falling for misinformation after accounts posing as the Frisco Police Chief spread false information online, WFAA previously reported. The FBI is investigating the fake social media posts, the agency confirmed.
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