TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Joel Garcia, one of the two men indicted for murder in the death of Anthony Johnson, is seeking changes to his bond conditions, according to a new filing.
Rafael Moreno, a detention officer, and Garcia, a lieutenant and supervisor, are accused of killing Johnson, an inmate in the Tarrant County Jail, by putting their weight on Johnson's back "or back of [Johnson's] shoulder causing [Johnson] to die of asphyxia," according to the indictment obtained by WFAA.
Johnson, a 31-year-old former Marine, died April 21 in the Tarrant County Jail after a struggle with jailers outside his cell.
Video of the incident showed Moreno kneeling on Johnson's back for 90 seconds. Deputies also used pepper spray during the incident, Tarrant County Sherriff Waybourn confirmed in May.
Garcia did not touch Johnson, but he is accused of acting as a party to Moreno's actions, according to Garcia's filing. Garcia was Moreno's supervisor.
The Texas DPS investigated the case against the jailers.
Garcia was arrested June 28 and released after posting a $125,000 bond, the filing states. As a condition of his release, Garcia must comply with intensive electric monitoring and a GPS monitor that place him under 24-hour house arrest, the filing states.
The filing argues that Garcia is not a flight risk and poses no threat to the community. Garcia also states that the bond conditions have put a strain on his family. Garcia's wife, also a Tarrant County Sheriff's Deputy, is now the sole income earner in their household with a young child after Garcia was fired from his position at the jail.
Changing the bond conditions would allow Garcia to care for his young child, earn income and attend important family events outside of DFW, the filing states.
"All I can say is why would anybody risk their life to be a police officer to be treated like this and have politics dictate the justice system," Randy Moore, the lawyer representing Garcia, previously told WFAA
More than 60 prisoners have died since Waybourn became sheriff in 2017.
