‘Enough is enough’: Caitlynne’s Legislation would adjust bond method that puts violent criminals back on Houston streets

HOUSTON — Considering that her daughter’s murder in 2019, Melanie Infinger has been on a mission to modify a revolving doorway bond program that puts violent criminals back on Harris County streets.

A bill in her daughter’s name was launched in the Texas legislature to support continue to keep some of people criminals in jail.

Caitlynne Infinger Guajardo was 20 and pregnant when her estranged spouse, who was out on several bonds, allegedly stabbed her 20 times, killing her and her unborn toddler.

Alex Guajardo experienced been arrested a handful of days in advance of the murder after allegedly assaulting Caitlynne and torturing and killing her cat. But a Harris County decide let him out on a PR – or private recognizance – bond, which usually means he did not have to spend a dime.

Related: Mom of murdered pregnant female wishes bail reform law passed

When the assault happened, Guajardo was currently out on an additional PR bond for his second DWI.

“When I observed out she was murdered, after the numbness and the shock and the denial and the sadness and the pain, I was just angry for the reason that I preferred to know who bonded him out,” Infinger reported Monday at a information convention announcing Caitlynne’s Legislation.  

Beloved kinds of dozens of other victims killed by men and women out on bond in Harris County have requested the exact dilemma: why are judges permitting suspects charged with violent crimes out of jail?

“These PR bonds are being handed out like popcorn. It has to end,” Infinger claimed. “These criminals are laughing at our Harris County justice program. Criminals who are violent belong guiding bars.”

Relevant: Pasadena law enforcement chief blames PR bond for brutal demise of expecting girl

Andy Kahan, Crime Stoppers’ Director of Victim Products and services & Advocacy, has also been sounding the alarm about the damaged bond process for months.

The problems stem partly from a lawsuit complicated the county’s dollars bail procedure that normally discriminated towards the lousy and persons of coloration. In advance of that lawsuit led to bond reform, defendants on misdemeanors could commit months in jail due to the fact they did not have dollars to publish bond.

But Kahan and many others say bond reform was by no means meant to protect violent offenders and judges have absent also considerably.

“The ramifications of felony bond reform have taken their toll on our citizens. It’s designed extra criminal offense victims than I have witnessed in my 30 a long time of operating in the felony victims’ advocacy discipline,” Kahan stated.

Texas Senator Paul Bettencourt is the sponsor of Caitlynne’s Legislation.

It would call for judges to:

• End issuing PR bonds to suspects who’ve previously had one particular
• Established a minimum bond of $10,000 for everyone who’s had 3 or much more felony expenses

Bettencourt stressed this is an difficulty that influences absolutely everyone.

“It’s time for the whole neighborhood to occur with each other. We just can’t let this go on,” he stated. “Judges quit releasing these individuals! It’s killing people today in the neighborhood. Quit it!”

Melanie Infinger reported she had begged Caitlynn to press rates from her husband and was so very pleased of her when she did. 

They hardly ever dreamed a judge would release him in just times.

“Obviously, your earth stops. The discomfort is unimaginable.  She wasn’t just my daughter, she was my most effective buddy,” Infinger reported. 

She hopes the bill, if handed, will support reduce many others from heading by the nightmare shared by her family. 

Pasadena police say Guajardo confessed to killing his wife. He explained to them he purposely stabbed her in the belly numerous periods to make guaranteed the unborn little one died, much too. 

Guajardo is charged with funds murder for the deaths of Caitlynne and their unborn newborn. He remains in the Harris County Jail with no bond.