Mario Alberto Morales, the ICE officer indicted for driving his SUV into a Houston man last month, handed himself in at a Harris County court on Monday. Judge Matthew Peneguy of the 488th District Court set his bond at $30,000 and ordered him to have no contact with any victim or witness in the case.
Prosecutors had asked for $75,000, citing the "violent nature" of the collision and what they described as admissions of prior drug use uncovered in their investigation. His lawyer asked for $25,000, arguing he was no flight risk. Morales was released on bond soon afterwards.
A Harris County grand jury indicted Morales, 33, on Friday for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony that carries two to 20 years in prison. District Attorney Sean Teare said it is the first time an immigration agent has been indicted in Texas.
