Mayor, District Attorney question judge’s bail decision
By Alana Cerrone
@Alana_Cerrone
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) – Xavier Betancourt Echevarria is accused of setting fire to a North Front Street home back in February. Despite prosecutors’ efforts to have him held, a district court judge released him on $500 bail.
He didn’t show up to a subsequent court appearance, and now, it’s believed he fled to Puerto Rico.
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell is a former federal prosecutor. He says it’s troubling to see these types of bail decisions at the state court level.
"It is eroding the credibility of the judiciary in the community and frankly it’s making the community less safe."
In two other cases in New Bedford just this month, a judge released one man who had over 30 other charges, including some drug-related. His co-defendant was held on $500 bail. He had over 60 violent and drug related offenses. He posted bail the next day.
Both times, the judge ruled against the recommendation of the district attorney.
"What we do see all too often is that dangerous people are released on bail and when they violate bail… it is rare to see people held accountable for that, and that frankly undermines the rule of law and I don’t think I’m overstating that when I say it."
Part of the problem according to Mayor Mitchell is the state’s lack of ability to track data concerning judge’s sentences and bail decisions. He said compiling that data would help to identify a trend and possibly work towards reform.
© WLNE-TV 2018
