DETROIT (WXYZ) — An accused Mexican drug smuggler is out of police custody and on the run after posting his $200 bond, according to Detroit police.
Officials say 24-year-old Jose Antonio Lopez is wanted by police after he skipped out on his March 12 probable cause hearing scheduled at the 36th District Court.
Lopez was facing life in prison for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 6 kilos of cocaine and heroin into Detroit.
At his March 2 arraignment in the 34th District Court, Lopez was charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver over 1000 grams of heroin and one count of possession with intent to deliver over 1000 grams of cocaine.
Officials confirmed that despite Lopez's confession to his crimes and his status as a non-U.S. resident, a Wayne County visiting magistrate set his bond at $2000/10 percent.
Lopez posted the $200 bond to get out of jail and is now on the run.
According to a Detroit police spokesperson, low bonds are a major problem for the Detroit Police Department and Wayne County judges who hear arraignments on Saturdays.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy responded to the judge's decision to require a $200 bond with the below statement:
The judge had everything she needed to make a decision about bond: the fact that he was a resident of another country, investigator’s report showing the nature and seriousness of the charges, his prior offenses in order to fashion an appropriate bond, and failed to do so. What amounts to a $200 bond is completely inappropriate and irresponsible in this case. Predictably he failed to appear at his March 12th Probable Cause Conference and is now a fugitive. For over a year a prosecutor is assigned Monday through Friday for arraignments in 36th District Court in Detroit to argue bond motions. We have never had the resources for a weekend arraignment prosecutor, but I will be asking for this in our next budget. However, in this case, a prosecutor was not needed because in this case the fact that a high bond was needed was a no brainer.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig is expected to hold an afternoon press conference addressing the matter.
We plan to stream live on 7 Actions News Facebook and wxyz.com.
