Meldon Lawyer Attorney Gets Client’s Bond Reduced by $3M

Our office was retained after a First Appearance proceeding where the court set our client’s bond at $3,000,000. Immediately after being retained on the case, we immediately filed a motion to reduce bond. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court released our client on his own recognizance. In other words, our client simply had to agree to appear at each of his future court proceedings.

To understand the court’s decision in reducing the bond, it is important to understand the purpose of bail. When a suspect is arrested, the court will set his bond in accordance with what the court deems appropriate, to ensure the defendant will appear at his future court proceedings. The court often considers the danger the defendant poses to the community and whether the defendant is a flight risk. If the defendant posts bond and subsequently does not appear in court, the defendant will forfeit the money that he or others posted on his behalf. Thus, bond gives a defendant an incentive to attend his scheduled court proceedings. Everyone who is arrested is not required to post a bond. However, if the court determines that the defendant is not a significant flight risk, nor a danger to the community, the court will release the defendant on his or her own recognizance—his promise to appear in court in the future.

In this case, we were able to successfully advocate for a bond reduction on our client’s behalf. Indeed, after the hearing, the court changed its mind and reduced bond completely.