Texas Judge Under Fire After Allegedly Breaking State Law by Granting Bond to Violent Offender

A Texas judge in Harris County is facing criticism after reportedly violating state law by releasing a convicted aggravated robbery suspect on personal recognizance (PR) bond. 

Jared Wilson, 37, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, yet 351st Criminal District Court Judge Natalia Cornelio reportedly released him on personal recognizance, despite the Damon Allen Act—a Texas law signed in 2021 by Gov. Greg Abbott (R). 

It was designed to keep high-risk defendants accused of violent crimes, including aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, in custody until trial.

Court documents obtained by Fox26 indicate that while out on deferred probation, Wilson allegedly committed two additional felony offenses: possession of a prohibited weapon—a machine gun—and tampering with evidence, both of which violated his probation terms.

Cornelio has previously drawn attention for decisions considered controversial by legal authorities. 

Last year, prosecutors reported that she arranged medical care for Ronald Lee Haskell, a death row inmate convicted of murdering six family members in 2014, including four children. 

Sealed court orders permitted Haskell to be transported from a high-security unit to a private medical facility for an MRI on July 30. 

According to The Texan, photographs submitted to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office showed Haskell in a waiting area with civilian patients, and the DA’s office only learned of the transport after a surviving victim received notification from the state’s automatic victim alert system. 

This led to a formal complaint and Cornelio’s removal from the case.

The recent decision involving Wilson could prompt review by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. 

Criminal District Court Judge Chuck Silverman told Fox26 that citizens are permitted to file complaints if they believe a judge has misused discretion or violated the law.

Andy Kahan, with Crime Stoppers of Houston, criticized Cornelio’s latest action, citing statutory violations. 

“That’s a no, no. Because we enacted a law, better known as Senate Bill 6, that eliminated most violent crimes, including aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, from being eligible for a PR bond,” Kahan said. 

“You can’t be doing this. It’s a violation of the statute. You can’t give a PR bond, bottom line, to anyone for a charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, but it happened.”

Cornelio, also known as “Nata,” has highlighted her dedication to serving underserved and Spanish-speaking communities. 

Her campaign website emphasizes that she became a lawyer to “make a difference, and to help ensure that all of our communities have equal access to and protection of our laws,” the Daily Mail reports. 

A bilingual Mexican-American, she lives in Houston with her husband and her dog, Biggie Smalls, and attended New York University and the University of Chicago Law School.

Legal experts and local officials say cases like Wilson’s highlight ongoing concerns about judicial discretion in Harris County. 

Critics argue that allowing defendants accused of violent crimes to be released on personal recognizance can undermine public confidence in the legal system and pose potential risks to community safety. 

Observers note that the State Commission on Judicial Conduct has the authority to review judges’ decisions, but investigations can be lengthy and outcomes uncertain, leaving residents and law enforcement to navigate the consequences in the meantime.

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