Pueblo man already out on bond is granted three more bonds totaling $290,000

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- A man from Pueblo who's awaiting trial for attempted first-degree murder keeps getting granted bail bonds, including a new batch totaling $290,000.

According to court documents obtained by KRDO, 42-year-old Leonard Cordova was arrested on September 15th for illegal possession and discharge of a firearm, a Class 6 felony. Days later, he was released on a $7,500 cash bond.

Four days after being released from jail the first time, Cordova was arrested for attempted first-degree murder on September 19th. Cordova allegedly shot at two women in a car near Northern Ave and Pine St. in Pueblo. On September 23rd, he was released from jail on a $100,000 bond.

In the arrest affidavit, one of the women who was shot told officers that Cordova sent her a video of him removing his ankle monitor. He then sent her a text message saying, "I'm coming for you."

Later that night, Cordova allegedly shot multiple rounds into the woman's car and proceeded to chase her and another woman to Parkview Medical Center, where the two women admitted themselves to the hospital with gunshot wounds to the leg.

Then, on January 11th, RMOMS (Rocky Mountain Offender Management Systems) found probable cause to believe that Cordova was in violation of his previous bond. They found him in contempt of court on three charges: contacting the victim, drinking, and manipulating his ankle monitor.

Cordova was given three more bonds for these charges. On January 21, he posted $200,000, $75,000, and $15,000 bonds for these three charges.

In the RMOMS affidavit obtained by KRDO, they received an alert that Cordova's ankle monitor had been tampered with from January 8-10. On the 10th, they made contact with him and "noticed visible scratches on the unit itself and the strap."

The affidavit states Cordova said, "I didn't do anything. I have been home." RMOMS staff then noticed the odor of alcohol and asked if he had been drinking.

Cordova said, "I didn't drink anything today," the affidavit states. A breathalyzer test yielded a .027 BAC result. The staff reminded him that consuming alcohol is a violation of his bond. Cordova replied, "I am going through a lot right now."

Jeremy Loew, a Colorado Springs attorney, says judges must grant bonds to defendants that are accused of committing crimes below a First Degree Murder charge.

"He is entitled to bond as long as it's not a probation revocation or a first degree murder, the judge does not have any discretion in not imposing a bond," Loew said. "The most important thing that a judge considers when going over bond criteria is community safety."

KRDO reached out to 10th Judicial Chief Judge Deborah Eylers, the judge granting these bonds, for an interview. She denied that request citing that judges do not discuss "cases pending before the court."

Instead, she stated that judges use Colorado Revised Statute §16-4-103 to determine criteria for bonds.

The Revised Statue states in 3A: "The type of bond and conditions of release shall be sufficient to reasonably ensure the appearance of the person as required and to protect the safety of any person or the community, taking into consideration the individual characteristics of each person in custody, including the person's financial condition."

4A goes on to say persons are eligible for release on bond in the "least-restrictive conditions consistent with provisions in 3A."

5A-5J say the following criteria is considered:

• The employment status and history of the person in custody.
• The nature and extent of family relationships of the person in custody.
• Past and present residences of the person in custody.
• The character and reputation of the person in custody.
• Identity of persons who agree to assist the person in custody in attending court at the proper time.
• The likely sentence, considering the nature and the offense presently charged.
• The prior criminal record, if any, of the person in custody and any prior failures to appear for court.
• Any facts indicating the possibility of violations of the law if the person in custody is released without certain conditions of release.
• Any facts indicating that the defendant is likely to intimidate or harass possible witnesses
• Any other facts tending to indicate that the person in custody has strong ties to the community and is not likely to flee the jurisdiction.

Loew told KRDO it is important to consider the presumption of innocence while imposing bond conditions.

"There is not a lot a judge can do especially considering one of our paramount concerns and constitutional rights is that people are presumed innocent and so while these allegations are serious and there may be substantial evidence against the defendant, he is still presumed innocent at the time," Loew said.