| For Immediate Release Case # 12CF0727 September 14, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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BAIL BONDS AGENT SENTENCED FOR ILLEGALLY SOLICITING CLIENTS FROM ORANGE COUNTY JAIL
SANTA ANA – A bail bonds agent was sentenced today to six months in jail and three years of formal probation for illegally soliciting clients from the Orange County Jail. James Everett Morris Jr., 49, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty June 29, 2012, to three felony counts of paying a person who is not a bail licensee commission in connection with a bail transaction and one felony count of having an arrangement with a person incarcerated in jail to inform and notify defendant of arrests. As a result of his conviction, the California Department of Insurance will revoke Morris’ bail bonds license.
Morris’ Case # 12CF0727
Between Oct. 9, 2009, and Feb. 18, 2010, Morris, a licensed Bail Bonds Agent and owner of James Morris Bail Bonds, made an agreement with an inmate incarcerated in the Orange County Jail for the inmate to notify Morris when other inmates needed bail. Morris paid this inmate commissions on five separate bails based on the information he received from this inmate. He paid the commission by putting money on the inmate’s financial book in exchange for information on other inmates.
Kenneth Hendrick’s Case # 12CF0728
Morris’ only other licensed bail bonds agent employee at James Morris Bail Bonds, Kenneth Lance Hendrick, is charged in a separate but related case. Hendrick, 49, Mission Viejo, is charged with 11 felony counts of having an arrangement with a person incarcerated in jail to inform and notify defendant of the arrest, two felony counts of a bail agent recommending the name of an attorney to an arrestee, one felony count of a bail agent allowing a non-bail licensee to solicit bail on the agent’s behalf, and one felony count of possession of a controlled substance in jail. If convicted on all charges, Hendrick faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and eight months in state prison. He is out of custody on $50,000 bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Oct. 19, 2012 and preliminary hearing Nov. 7, 2012, in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Between March 4, 2010, and Dec. 6, 2010, Hendrick is accused of making an agreement with 11 different inmates incarcerated in the Orange County Jail for the inmates to notify Hendrick when there were other inmates needing bail.
On June 29, 2010, Hendrick is accused of permitting one of the inmates to specifically solicit bail on his behalf while in custody. On two separate occasions in March and April 2010, while on the phone with an inmate who was a potential client, he is accused of recommending the name of an attorney to the inmate.
Law Addressing Bail Bond Practices
California law prohibits licensed bail bond agents from having arrangements with any person in custody to notify the agent of the fact that another person has been arrested. Only a licensed bail bonds agent is permitted to solicit or negotiate bail bonds from another.