A judge has reportedly lowered the bond for a 17-year-old murder suspect and granted his release. The defense attorney shared insights following the ruling.
A Collin County judge on Monday reduced the bond for a Frisco teen charged with murder to $250,000 and ordered his release under strict conditions.
Judge Angela Tucker imposed house arrest on Karmelo Anthony, along with electronic monitoring and a requirement to obtain court approval for any travel. The 17-year-old was arrested after the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf during a UIL District 11-5A track meet on April 2.
Defense attorney Mike Howard called the $250,000 bond “fair” in a press conference, stating, “Bond, as the judge said, is not supposed to be an instrument of oppression, it’s not supposed to keep people in jail, it’s not supposed to punish.”
He explained that the purpose of the bond is to ensure the accused appears in court, follows all required conditions, and does not pose a threat to the public. He said the amount set by the judge was significant and came with terms designed to protect both Anthony’s family and the wider community.
The judge reportedly cited Anthony’s age, clean record, and community ties. His father testified the family couldn’t access over $400,000 raised online.
he’s still guilty no mater what. Everyone knows he’s a killer [sic].”