Don Etherton

Austin, TX

 

I have a friend that had to be bonded out of jail in Austin, TX. She lives in Houston. She wasn't able to make her last court date and a bench warrant was issued. She went to Austin and turned herself in. She did her jail time, she had her community service and alcohol classes all taken care of. Now the bail bondsman is saying since she missed her last court date she is responsible for the $2000 bond amount. 

 

She is really scared cause her mom and dad bailed her out and the bondsman is threatening her and her parents with a suit. I told her I would try and help her out in finding an answer to this question.

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Don,

That sounds like a civil legal matter between the bondsman and your friend and the cosigners (Mom and Dad).

 

It all really depends on what agreements they entered into with the bondsman when they engaged him to get her out of jail. I have seen some contracts that stipulate that if the defendant fails to appear at any time, then the entire amount of the bond is then owed to the bondsman. 99% of all bail bond contracts I have come across also have provisions for court costs, administrative fees, investigator fees (if the bondsman hires someone like me to find and take the defendant to jail), etc. Harris county has some of the highest court costs for bondsman in Texas.

 

And perhaps you don't have the entire story? This is not uncommon either. There might be additional charges pending, the case may not have had an order of final adjudication, etc. For what ever reason, if Harris Co. is still going after the bondsman in a bond forfeitures suit, then he will most assuredly exercise his options to recover his losses.

 

Warmest Regards,

 

L. Scott Harrell

CompassPoint Investigations

"In Relentless Pursuit for Your Success"