Officials in the district attorney’s office verified that action was taken this week in two high profile murder cases.
On Monday, 35th District Judge Steve Ellis signed a court order dismissing the charge against Randall Philen who was convicted and sent to prison in December 2011 for the 2009 murder of his brother Ronald. Philen was released from prison in January 2012 after investigators received new information implicating four other men in the murder.
Efrain Castillo III, Alex Lucky Gil, Jr., Mathew Scott Navarro and Pedro Rocha were arrested in January for the murder of Ronald Philen and were each indicted in late March.
Also on Monday, Judge Ellis denied a bond reduction request for Rene Pinon who is currently jailed for the murder of Eddie Lopez at a donut shop in Early last month.
Officials at the district attorney office said that Pinon’s attorney requested a bond reduction to between $50,000 and $75,000. Officials said that the judge denied the request due to the suspect being a possible flight risk. The DA’s office said that Pinon’s bond is currently set at $500,000.
