Judge Goodwin Forced to Release Jailed Man Accused of Kidnapping and Sexual Assault on a PR Bond

SAN ANGELO, TX – In a move that confused attorneys, the court reporter and the media, 391^st District Judge Brad Goodwin granted a motion giving 35-year-old Alegandro Herman Fevala Jr. a mandatory Personal Recognizance (PR) bond Friday. 

The confusing part of the motion is that Judge Goodwin set the PR bond at $500,000.  Normally a PR bond has no set amount. What the court order demands is that Fevala is indebted to the State of Texas for the amount of $500,000, but the amount will be void if he "well and truly comply in all things with the conditions of this bond." The result is that Fevala is released from jail pending his required appearances in court and will not have to pay a bail bondsman to enjoy his freedom awaiting trial. He was originally being held on a $1 million bond.

Fevala is charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping and sexual abuse and two counts of sexual assault.  He had been in custody for over 90 days, since March 19, without being indicted, which state law mandates the court give a PR bond under Texas State Statue Section 17.121.  His defense attorney Stephanie Goodman requested a hearing over Fevala's Application for Habeas Corpus and a motion for Bond shortly after the 90th day Fevala was being held unindicted in a county-contracted overflow space at a jail in Colorado City. Fevala's indictment was posted July 7, today.

Judge Goodwin, however, is allowed to set conditions of probation.  A clearly agitated Goodwin told Fevala, “The court has no choice.  I don’t have to like it but I can set conditions.”

With that, Goodwin set a “$500,000 PR bond” including home confinement and electronic monitoring with GPS.  Fevala will be released to his mother’s address and is not allowed within 1,000 feet of the alleged victim or her family, nor is he allowed to communicate directly or indirectly with her or her family. 

Fevala is charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old woman.  Court documents show the victim told investigators she received a social media message from who she thought was a friend.  She agreed to meet with the friend.  

The victim approached a black Dodge Charger and when she opened the passenger door to get in, she saw Fevala who then grabbed her and took her to a house on North Jefferson St.  The house was unoccupied at the time.  The victim told investigators she was sexually assaulted several times.  She was able to escape when her assailant was in the bathroom. 

Fevala is accused of creating the fake social media account where he posed as the victim's friend. 

Fevala shares custody of his children and will be living with nieces and nephews.  Goodwin allowed Fevala to be around those specific children but no others.  Fevala’s attorney Stephanie Goodman told the court that Fevala has a job and works in Big Lake and will need to be able to travel to work.  The judge agreed to that condition.  Fevala is not allowed to drink alcohol, consume drugs, or go to bars and will be tested weekly for alcohol use.