Inmate Released Under Harris County Judge Hidalgo’s Coronavirus Order, Back in Jail on New Charges

An inmate released under a short-lived order by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus in Harris County Jail, was arrested Tuesday and faces new charges.

Hidalgo’s order called for the release of certain non-violent inmates in an effort to reduce the jail’s population during the COVID-19 crisis.

When Hidalgo’s order was blocked by felony court judge Herb Ritchie, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez turned to a federal court judge to help settle the matter. Late Tuesday Judge Lee Rosenthal notified all parties she would not intervene in this particular matter.

Hidalgo also responded to the re-arrest of Pope.

“We don’t make policy according to headlines. You can’t be a hundred percent certain of everything. We’d have to arrest everybody in Harris County to make sure nobody is going to get in any sort of trouble,” said Hidalgo.

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