A Texas judge, Angela Tucker has reportedly set her social media account to private after reducing the bail for a teenager charged with murder.
Collin County Judge Angela Tucker, of the 199th Judicial District Court, lowered 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000 on Monday, as reported by CrimeOnline.
Judge Tucker, a Republican, has faced criticism since the bail reduction for Anthony, with detractors circulating her image and personal information across various social media accounts, according to DailyMail.
This bail reduction follows Anthony’s family hiring prominent Dallas defense attorney Mike Howard to represent him in this murder case.
“Given that Karmelo has no prior criminal history and considering that this young man has not been in any trouble before, a bond of $1 million is unnecessary,” Howard stated. “This family needs to survive under tremendous pressure. Living in a gated community, given everything, the safety of their younger children is indeed warranted. Security details and criminal defense are not inexpensive.”
During the hearing, Judge Tucker remarked that “they’ve never encountered the security issues they now face due to this case.”
The prosecution contended that Anthony’s family could have managed the initial bail amount once they accessed their funds, questioning the validity of the bail hearing.
“For reasons unknown, the defendant brought a knife to a track meet for what could have been a fist fight at worst. [The family] could make this million-dollar bond once they have access to it. I don’t understand why we are here,” Collin County First Assistant Bill Wirsky said, according to FOX 4.
Anthony’s family noted that not only do they need the funds for their son’s legal defense, but that “it isn’t as simple as making a phone call to access it.”
Tucker emphasized that the hearing’s purpose was to ensure Anthony’s return to court for trial, not to conduct an actual trial, adding that her decision was not made lightly.
“I don’t take these matters lightly. I take them very seriously. There’s no substitute for the loss of life or the grieving of a family. I don’t want the family to think that the bond amount is tied to the dignity of their loss. You cannot compel a person to return,” she stated.
Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, was fatally stabbed during a UIL District 11-5A track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. Reports indicate that Karmelo Anthony, a student from Centennial High School in Frisco, stabbed Metcalf in the chest during a confrontation after Anthony had taken a seat under a tent designated for Memorial High School students.
Anthony was reportedly seated under the tent during a weather delay when Metcalf asked him to leave.
In his arrest report, Anthony claimed to a school resource officer that Metcalf “put his hands” on him during the altercation.
After being taken into custody, Anthony reportedly stated, “I’m not alleged. I did it.” He later inquired whether Metcalf would be okay and whether his actions could be considered self-defense.
In addition to house arrest and wearing an ankle monitor, Anthony is required to check in with a bailiff weekly and has been ordered to have no contact with Metcalf’s family.
Stay tuned for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: Austin Metcalf/Memorial High School]
