Henry Rodriguez has been sitting in jail for the last 18 years for the role he allegedly played in the 1998 murder of Jeanette Espeleta who was pregnant at the time. Rodriguez is accused of helping dump the body after his friend, Richard Tovar, murdered Espeleta. Tovar, who is currently serving a life sentence, is believed to have murdered Espeleta to avoid paying child support for the unborn child. The Orange County District Attorney’s office has been under fire recently for their handling of the Rodriguez case, particularly that they failed to disclose records about jailhouse informants used in this and other cases. The “jailhouse snitch” scandal was the motivating factor for a new trial to be granted in the Rodriguez case. Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals lowered his bail from $1 million to $500,000 as he awaits his new trial.
Why Bail is lowered in an Orange County Criminal Case
There are a number of reasons that bail may be lowered following charges for an Orange County misdemeanor or felony case. You have the right to request a bail hearing. At the bail hearing a judge will listen to arguments about why bail should be reduced (or at the prosecutor’s request raised.) The judge will often take several factors under consideration such as the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding the alleged offense, the weight of the evidence, the defendant’s ties in the community or likelihood that he or she would flee, past criminal history, and the danger to society. If you or a loved one has been arrested for a crime and needs to post bail, make Premiere Bail Bonds your first call. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll free at 800-662-0056.