25-year-old ex-con turned capital murder suspect free from jail on bonds totaling more than $1 million
HOUSTON - From 2013 through 2017, 25-year-old Kevin James Brantley, III was in prison.
"And in 2017, he gets charged with capital murder, the most egregious offense you can have," said Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers.
Brantley had just gotten out of prison when police say he shot and killed 43-year-old Calvin Freeman during a robbery at 4805 Lyons. Freeman was shot multiple times while trying to run away.
Even though judges can deny bonds to capital murder suspects, 209th Criminal District Court Judge Brian Warren set Brantley’s bond at just $150,000.
After picking up a new felony charge of felon in possession of a weapon, Brantley spent 60 days in jail. But then Judge Brian Warren reinstated his bond.
"They gave him an astronomically high bond, $750,000," Kahan said.
Not only is Brantley able to post the $750,000 bond for capital murder, he posts an additional $450,000 for two charges of aggravated robbery and one charge of felon in possession of a weapon.
"I’ve been doing this for over 30 years," Kahan said. "I have never seen someone actually get out on a bond for over a million dollars until today."
BREAKING BOND: MORE REPORTS ON SUSPECTS COMMITTING CRIMES WHILE OUT ON BOND
"I’ve been in the bail bonding business for just about 30 years," said Houston City Council Member Michael Kubosh.
Kubosh says during his career as a bondsman, he never posted a bond for one million dollars.
"If the bondsman feels like he has good collateral, and if he’s got good co-signers and the risk is low, he may take less than 10%," Kubosh said.
It’s common knowledge at the courthouse that some bond companies will accept just 5% of the bond amount and even less.
"They are just letting them out without any supervision or oversight," said Kubosh. "And therein lies the problem."
"It’s inevitable, based on his track record, based on his criminal history to commit violent acts, someone is going to pay the price for this," said Kahan.