Bond out on bond – again

Already facing criminal charges for a bevy of crimes that include auto theft and trying to pass off a Democratic Party check for back rent, alleged conwoman Mary Bond was again hauled off to the Jefferson County Jail on Monday, May 9, for yet another reported theft. Like the many times Bond has been taken into custody before, however, the alleged thief made bond and was again a free woman by the following day.

When Mary G. Bond arrived in Judge John Stevens’ Criminal District Court on May 9, the accused appeared alongside attorney Ryan Gertz to answer charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and securing execution of a document by deception. Bond’s cases dated back more than a year, Judge Stevens noted when pushing for a resolution of either making a plea or bringing the causes before a jury.

As noted in a prior investigative report by The Examiner, Bond’s crimes reportedly began even years before the criminal complaints were filed and, even as one criminal complaint after another was lodged in the last few years, even more are being reported – and accepted by the Criminal District Attorney’s office.

In the August 2020 complaint that was to be brought before Judge Stevens on May 9, Bond was allegedly accompanied by her children to abscond with a vehicle from Enterprise Rent-A-Car. According to the probable cause affidavit for Bond’s arrest, the Enterprise manager alerted police to a missing Toyota Camry, recovered at Bond’s place of work nearly two months later. There was video, too, according to Beaumont Police Department Officer Jared Dupree.

“I reviewed the video … and also confirmed the white female who took the vehicle was that of Mary Bond,” Dupree attested. Bond had allegedly taken the keys to the vehicle off when the business was closed and came back after-hours to pick up the stolen auto. “Bond exited a Toyota SUV and then entered the Toyota Camry with her children before driving away.”

The other Bond case going stale on the Criminal District Court docket comes from an alleged con that elicited more than $10,000 of rent-free living, much to the chagrin of the Chelsea Apartments management, the representative of which opted to press charges.

As outlined in the probable cause affidavit penned by BPD Detective Amber McMichael, Bond alleged the Believe and Achieve Foundation was covering her rent bill – which topped $17,000 – complete with supporting documentation from an executive who police learned never existed.

Subsequent reports of attempted extortion have yet to be filed – although the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office has been in receipt of a complaint from State Representative Joe Deshotel, the office confirms. According to Deshotel, “There were many victims.

“I don’t know how she keeps getting off.”

Outside Stevens’ court on May 9, Bond paced nervously on the phone awaiting her turn before the judge. Overheard on the call, Bond was worried that another pending charge was about to drop.

She was right.

Before the judge’s bench, Bond was informed of a warrant for her arrest stemming from a theft charge filed in Judge Clint Woods’ County Court at Law No. 3. Adding now to Bond’s criminal charges is a theft allegation related to employment at the Trails on Treadway apartments in Beaumont. According to the criminal complaint, Bond took $1,000 in petty cash from the company, and refused to return the funds when confronted upon her termination from employment in August 2021.

Bond assumed the position, hands folded behind her back, but the bailiffs allowed the newly-re-inducted inmate to walk to the jailing cells on her own volition. Once arrested, Bond was hauled off to county jail where she was to sit until her trial that was slated to commence post haste.

Back in the courtroom, however, attorney after attorney presented reason after reason as to why their clients couldn’t proceed to trial.

“We’re at trial docket and everybody seems to be starting from scratch today,” the judge admonished. “That’s not the way to run a railroad, folks.”

From a dozen-plus cases on the docket to proceed to trial, it was hard for the judge to cement one solid case that was ready to be heard. The oldest case, on the docket for 1,240 days, was “all quiet, not ready.” A man out on bail facing two indecency with a child charges from 2019 – not ready. Attorneys are scheduled for vacation; sick leave; disbarred; on protective orders to be at other court venues instead…

“It does not please the court,” Stevens said.

According to the judge, juries are hard to come by, which has further added to a backlog created by a host of issues including COVID-19 closures. May 9, Stevens had a full jury panel – he fought hard to put it to good use. Ultimately, a jailed defendant reported ready for trial with attorney Tom Burbank. After pulling the jury, the parties pleaded, cancelling the trial and proceeding to the penalty phase.

As of May 11, Bond was free on a $2,500 bond for the theft charge filed on April 20. Criminal District Court Coordinator Elli Weathermon said, also as of May 11, it is unclear when the court will be able to sit another jury, pushing any potential trial date for Bond to June or July.

In the courtroom next door on the same day as Bond’s trial date, Amazing Siding & Roofing purveyor Jason McKnight was set to show for trial in Judge Raquel West’s 252nd District Court. As in Stevens’ court, attorneys presented not ready in the McKnight case, which alleges the accused recklessly struck and killed bicyclist Edward Stedman IV before fleeing the scene without stopping. McKnight’s case, filed more than two years ago, was reset – until August, according to the court coordinator.

B. Scott McLendon contributed to this report.