San Angelo Woman Charged with Capital Murder Denied Bond Reduction

SAN ANGELO, TX - Lesley Moreno Fernandez returned to court once again on Tuesday morning to ask the judge to reduce her $1million bond and allow her to be released from jail on a Personal Recognizance bond.

Moreno is currently in the Tom Green County Jail after being charged with Capital Murder in the death of her 21-month-old son Nathaniel Quezada. Autopsy results showed that Nathaniel died as a result of “multiple vertebral fractures due to blunt impact trauma.”

In yesterday's hearing, the defense argued that since the state wasn’t ready to prosecute the case 90 days after the arrest was made, Moreno had the right to have her bond reduced from the $1 million. 

The defense called several witnesses to testify on behalf of Lesley, two of them relatives of Andrew Fernandez. Fernandez is Moreno’s husband and step-father to Nathaniel. Fernandez is currently in the Tom Green County Jail also charged with Capital Murder in Nathaniel’s death. His bond has also been set at $1 million.

Violet and Shawn Ybarra testified that Lesley has been part of their family since she married Andrew Fernandez. They both explained to the court that their family was unable to secure a security deposit of $100,000 to qualify for a bondsman, but that their entire family wished to see Lesley home. Moreno has no family in Texas and according to her mother-in-law, all of her personal effects were sold to procure funds for Moreno’s and Fernandez’s commissary account.

“I just wish there is something we can do to get her out,” said Mrs. Ybarra.

Both family members told the court that someone in their family would be able to provide Moreno with a job is she was released. They both volunteered to drive Moreno to court appointments since she does not have a license and allow Moreno to stay in their home until the conclusion of the trial.

They both denied ever witnessing any type of violence between Moreno and Fernandez or to any of their seven children. The remaining six children the couple share were removed from their custody. When asked they stated Lesley had never had any issues with any members of the family and agreed she was a “Godly woman.”

The third witness called was the director or Fresh Start Ministries, Cecily Miller, who stated before the court that Lesley would be eligible to enter the recovery program that Fresh Start hosts. Miller was questioned by the defense about her interactions with Moreno during bible study that is conducted at the jail and what requirements were needed to qualify for the program.

Multiple witnesses later, Judge Brad Goodwin ruled on the motion. He denied Moreno the bond reduction, meaning she will remain in jail until her trial date or at least until her family finds a way to come up with the $100,000 deposit for her original bond amount.

Moreno is represented by Jenny Henley adn Evan Jones. The State is represented by District Attorney Allison Palmer and ADA Ashley Knight.