News
Press Release: Crime Stoppers of Houston Fully Supports Governor Greg Abbott’s Calling to Make Bond Reform a Legislative Priority this Session
HOUSTON (January 22, 2021) – Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott held a roundtable discussion in Austin with law enforcement and public safety advocates to discuss his legislative priorities to ensure a safer future for the Lone Star State. Crime Stoppers of Houston fully supports the Governor’s proposed initiatives to reform a ‘broken bail system’. As the leading public safety organization in Texas, Crime Stoppers of Houston identified this trend as a public safety concern early on and has been addressing this for nearly 2 years.
In late 2019, Crime Stoppers’ Director of Victim Services, Andy Kahan, noticed a concerning pattern with defendants charged with murder: many of them had been released on multiple felony bonds, bond forfeiture and/or a personal bond. He began studying the issue and in mid-March 2020 began tracking the issue based on data from court records.
In each case Andy tracks, the victims were killed by a Harris County suspect who:
- was a defendant who had been released on multiple felony bonds; or
- had a bond forfeiture reinstated; or
- had a motion to revoke bond denied; and/or
- was released on a PR Bond.
Today, we are releasing Andy’s latest report that outlines 90 people who have been killed/murdered by suspects released on a variety of bonds, including felony and personal bond(s) from Harris County.
View report here. This report includes victim names, photographs and manner of death.
“The ramifications of bail reform have taken its toll on the citizens of Harris County, many who have paid the ultimate price with the loss of their life. We applaud and will be fully supporting Governor Abbott’s proposed legislative strategies related to the issues regarding bail reform,’ says Crime Stoppers of Houston Director of Victim Services Andy Kahan “Crime Stoppers of Houston wants to make it perfectly clear: We support Misdemeanor Bond Reform. What we don’t support is when public safety is placed at a higher risk when career habitual offenders are continuously released back to the community only to re-offend time after time again.”
Crime Stoppers believes all of us who live and work in Harris County should be on the same page regarding public safety. “Improving public safety has to, and must be, a nonpartisan issue and objective.’ says Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO Rania Mankarious
As the leading public safety organization bridging the gap between citizens and law enforcement for forty years, Crime Stoppers of Houston looks forward to having critical public safety conversations as we seek to enhance public safety through positive reform.
Crime Stoppers of Houston will continue to aggressively work with Governor Greg Abbott and state legislators to ensure the utter most safety of everyone who calls Harris County home. We encourage the community to get involved and follow the work of Andy Kahan @akahancrimesto1 and Crime Stoppers of Houston @CrimeStopHOU.
To learn more about Crime Stoppers of Houston, including their Victim Services and Advocacy Program, visit crime-stoppers.org.
Crime Stoppers of Houston Joins Harris County Commissioner Ramsey at Town Hall to Address Skyrocketing Crime
Crime Stoppers Director of Victim Services Andy Kahan participated in Town Hall held Tuesday, January 19 by Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey. Community leaders, law enforcement, and residents were invited to engage in public discussion of the challenges and possible solutions.
Andy shared information about his research findings on the ramifications of bail reform.
Check out this recap of the Town Hall written by Holly Hansen of The Texan.
FOX 26 Breaking Bond Series – Segment 8
Segment 8 of our Breaking Bond Series with FOX 26 Houston.
Once again, another violent offender is let out on bond even after his mom pleads with the court not to allow him to bond out. Now, Pope might be looking at a potential life sentence resulting from a string of violent crimes, including his shootout with Houston Police Department officers just 3 days ago.
Watch below:
Link: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/breaking-bond-violent-offenders-own-mother-tells-judge-her-son-is-a-menace-to-society.amp?fbclid=IwAR28JNpv61O5XNG5NL1kU_hWRYI6VhmBy10acrxiG5-LkoY0vvsjpArwyXo
The Balanced Voice Podcast with Rania Mankarious Kicks Off Season 2
Today, Crime Stoppers of Houston kicked off season 2 of it’s podcast, The Balanced Voice Podcast. This is a podcast for those who desire to have balanced conversations that offer real solutions to today’s most pressing issues. Join the conversation every Wednesday at 10am.
This week on Episode 15, we welcome Crime Stoppers of Houston’s very own Director of Victim Services and Victim Advocacy, Andy Kahan, to discuss the shocking trend of the repeat release of violent offenders on bond. In their conversation, Rania, Andy and expert contributor, Jennifer Hohman, break down how this disturbing trend correlates to rising crime rates and affects human trafficking victims.
Watch below or listen on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and iHeart!
–
Hosted by Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious @theraniareport
Powered by Crime Stoppers of Houston
Produced by Real News Public Relations, Sydney Zuiker, Elizabeth McChesney and Tania Cruz
Press Release: Houston-Based Action and Drama Film Donates Portion of Amazon Profits to Crime Stoppers of Houston
HOLLYWOOD TO HOUSTON: ‘NARCO SUB’ SET FOR JANUARY RELEASE
Houston-Based Action and Drama Film Donates Portion of Amazon Profits to Crime Stoppers of Houston
HOUSTON (January 2021) – Deep Water Productions, the Houston-based production company and subsidiary of Derek Potts Ventures, announces the release of Narco Sub ©, an action and drama film based on true events, in late January. Cast members include notable actors such as film and television star Lee Majors, best known for his roles in The Big Valley and The Six Million Dollar Man, Tom Sizemore, widely acclaimed for his roles in Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down and Heat, as well as Robert Lasardo, who starred in The Mule alongside Clint Eastwood.
Written by Deep Water Productions founder, Derek Potts, the film also enlisted notable Houston director, Shawn Welling. Narco Sub tells the story of the ongoing battle between the Colombian Drug Cartel and American law enforcement over the Cartel’s drug and sex trafficking activities involving American citizens. The story centers on Bruce Stryker, a retired American sub commander and navy seal whose family is kidnapped by the cartel in Medellín, Colombia so as to force him to pilot a Cartel submarine transporting cocaine to the Miami drug cartel, led by Majors’ character. With the DEA, CIA and FBI on his tail, he is pushed to the brink and forced to become a criminal to save his family and other victims.
Fitting with the times, the film will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video through purchase or rental. Beginning with the release, a portion of the film’s profits will be donated to Crime Stoppers of Houston, Houston’s top non-profit dedicated to public safety. Since 1980, Crime Stoppers of Houston has remained committed to its mission to solve and prevent serious crime in the Greater Houston Area in partnership with citizens, media and the criminal justice system. The partnership is a natural fit as the film aims to shed light on numerous criminal activities, particularly sex trafficking, a cause close to Potts after his experience helping victims of sex trafficking through his legal work.
“We’re thrilled with our partnership with Narco Sub, a partnership that highlights two of Houston’s best qualities, the arts and the philanthropic heart of our city, working together to further improve the city by combatting crime,” said Rania Mankarious, CEO of Crime Stoppers. “We recognize that these issues affect all of us and find it critical to address them.”
The leadership behind the camera and philanthropic partner aren’t the only things that production kept local. The filming of Narco Sub takes place in several different Texas locations, including Houston, Katy, Cotulla and Kemah. While filming in Los Angeles halted due to COVID-19, the reopening of Texas provided production of this local film the opportunity to safely begin filming again, giving it a leg up on the Hollywood competition. As a tribute to its roots, the Houston-based film worked with a number of local vendors including the use of Jentry Kelley Cosmetic products and sourcing jewelry from Zadok Jewelers.
“I cannot wait to share this story and show off what we can accomplish as part of the film community in Houston, a city that truly embraces the arts,” said Potts. “Getting to release Narco Sub will be a huge milestone for me, and our partnership with Crime Stoppers of Houston adds so much value not only the story we are trying to tell but to the impact this film can have on our city.”
Deep Water Productions is a subsidiary of Houston-based Derek Potts Ventures. The national operations of the production company entail the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. The company continues to evolve and expand its repertoire with new genres, a mix of up-and-coming and established actors and challenging subject matter, some with the potential to effect social change. With emphasis on content that relates to audiences from an entertainment, current events or wholistic perspective, Deep Water Productions is proud to present award-winning work.