Travis County Bail Bond Board Meeting Minutes - December 3, 2025
Present:
- Ms. Dolores Ortega-Carter, Chair (In Person)
- Mr. Billy Engle, Vice Chair (In Person)
- Mr. Benjamin Blackburn, 2nd Vice-Chair (In Person)
- Ms. Deborah Mendez, County Clerk (In Person)
- Mr. Chris Dietche, District Clerk’s Office (In Person)
- Lt. Michael Everill, TCSO (In Person)
- Ms. Amanda Green, County Clerk (Virtual)
- Judge Carlos Barrera, County Court 8 (Virtual)
- Judge Ron Myerson, Municipal Court (Virtual)
Also Present:
- Ms. Annalynn Cox, County Attorney’s Office (In Person)
- Ms. Vickie Riojas, Bail Bond Board Secretary (In Person)
- Ms. Angelica McDowell, Pretrial Services (In Person)
- Mr. Eric Dobbs, County Attorney’s Office (Virtual)
- Ms. Sara Casey, County Attorney’s Office (Virtual)
- Ms. Jennifer Parker, Pretrial Services (Virtual)
- Ms. Jennifer Moreno-Williams, Bail Bonds Express (Virtual)
Ms. Ortega-Carter called the meeting to order.
A. Consider minutes of the November 5, 2025, meeting and take appropriate action.
Mr. Engle moved, Mr. Dietche seconded, and the Board voted to approve November 5, 2025, minutes.
B. Receive update on investigation from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office concerning bail bond scam calls and take appropriate action.
Lt. Everill updated the Board that the investigation by the Sheriff’s Office is ongoing, and he provided details on a recent incident. He also informed the Board that the Sheriff’s Office has posted signage concerning the ongoing scam, and that they have made updates to their website informing the public of these scams.
C. Consider request from Jennifer Moreno dba Bail Bonds Express for release of certificate of deposit (at time of maturity) being held as collateral for her license and take appropriate action.
Mr. Engle moved, Mr. Blackburn seconded, and the Board voted to approve Jennifer Moreno’s request of release of certificate of deposit (at time of maturity) being held as collateral for her license.
D. Announce election results of the Justice of the Peace member of the Bail Bond Board and take appropriate action.
The results of the election of the Justice of the Peace representative were announced. The Justices elected Judge Yvonne Williams, JP1, to serve as their representative.
E. Announce election results of the bail bond licensee member of Bail Bond Board and take appropriate action.
The Travis County Bail Bondsmen voted to re-elect Mr. Billy Engle as their representative to the Travis County Bail Bond Board.
F. Conduct elections for Chair, Vice Chair, and 2nd Vice Chair, and take appropriate action.
The Board voted for the following slate of nominees:
Mr. Engle moved, Mr. Blackburn seconded, and the Board voted for:
Chair – Dolores Ortega-Carter, Travis County Treasurer
Ms. Ortega-Carter moved, Mr. Blackburn seconded, and the Board voted for:
Vice-Chair –Billy Engle, Bail Bondsmen Representative
Mr. Engle moved, Ms. Ortega-Carter seconded, and the Board voted for:
2nd Vice-Chair –Mr. Benjamin Blackburn
G. Conduct elections for Site Visit Subcommittee and take appropriate action.
Mr. Engle moved, Mr. Dietche seconded, and the Board voted to keep the current slate for the Site Visit Subcommittee as follows:
Ms. Dolores Ortega-Carter, Travis County Treasurer
Ms. Velva Price, District Clerk’s Office
Mr. Billy Engle, Bail Bondsmen Representative
H. Conduct elections for Complaints Subcommittee and take appropriate action.
Mr. Engle moved, Mr. Blackburn seconded, and the Board voted for the following to slate for the Complaints Subcommittee as follows:
Judge Ron Myerson, Municipal Court
Mr. Billy Engle, Bail Bondsmen Representative
Mr. Benjamin Blackburn, ACDLA
Ms. Green moved, Mr. Engle seconded, and the Board voted to adjourn.
I. Discuss upcoming Criminal Attorney Defense elections to the Travis County Bail Bond Board and take appropriate action.
Mr. Blackburn notified the Board that the election for the criminal defense attorney member of the Bail Bond Board will take place at the luncheon hosted by ACDLA on December 18, 2025, from 12:30pm-1:30pm and will announce to the Board at the next meeting.
J. Public Comment.
1) Ms. Riojas informed the Board that effective January 2026, she will be stepping down from her position as the Bail Bond Board Secretary, and that Ms. Angelica McDowell will assume that position. She also announced that a new, centralized email address has been created, [email protected].
Mr. Blackburn moved, and Ms. Ortega-Carter seconded, and the Board voted to adjourn.
