| For Immediate Release Case # 12CF0727, 12CF0728 March 12, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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TWO BAIL BONDS AGENTS CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY SOLICITING CLIENTS FROM ORANGE COUNTY JAIL WHILE WORKING AT JAMES MORRIS BAIL BONDS
SANTA ANA – Two bail bonds agents will be arraigned on charges of illegally soliciting clients from the Orange County Jail in two separate cases while each worked at James Morris Bail Bonds. James Everett Morris Jr., 49, Santa Ana, is charged with 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 the arrest. Kenneth Lance 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, Morris faces a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and Hendrick faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and eight months in state prison.
Morris’ Case # 12CF0727
Between Oct. 9, 2009, and Feb. 18, 2010, Morris, a licensed Bail Bonds Agent at James Morris Bail Bonds, is accused of making an agreement with an inmate incarcerated in the Orange County Jail for the inmate to notify Morris when other inmates needed bail. Morris is accused of paying this inmate commissions on five separate bails based on the information he received from this inmate. He is accused of paying the commission by putting money on the inmate’s financial book in exchange for information on other inmates.
Morris turned himself in to the court on $20,000 bail today. He is scheduled for a continued arraignment April 6, 2012, 9:00 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Hendrick’s Case # 12CF0728
Between March 4, 2010, and Dec. 6, 2010, Hendrick, a licensed Bail Bonds Agent at James Morris Bail Bonds, 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 potential client, he is accused of recommending the name of an attorney to the inmate.
Hendrick was arrested March 9, 2012, and is accused of having methamphetamine in his sock when taken into custody. He is being held on $50,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned tomorrow, March 13, 2012, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.