Judge delays bond ruling for man charged with intoxication manslaughter deaths on Christmas Eve

The man charged with driving drunk and killing three people in a crash Christmas Eve remains behind bars.

Joel Garcia’s arraignment and bond hearing took place Tuesday morning. In the 210 th District Court.

The courtroom was packed with family members of Garcia, as well as family members of the victims: Brothers Joshua and Isaiah Deal and Joshua’s girlfriend, Shannon Del Rio.

The prosecution argued for a $500,000 bond, saying Garcia had violated his probation for a previous DWI case and posed a flight risk.

Garcia’s probation officer told the judge that Garcia had admitted to violating his probation for the previous DWI by drinking alcohol less than two weeks before the deadly crash.

The judge asked whether the department took action against Garcia and the probation officer admitted that, while the violations happened on Dec. 12 and 18, she didn’t receive the official report until Dec. 22 – two days before the crash.

The defense argued that Garcia should be let out on a personal recognizance bond.

Judge Gonzalo Garcia said the prosecution’s request was “exorbitant.”

The judge seemed to be leaning toward a bond amount of $25,000 to $30,000 for each of the three counts of intoxication manslaughter.

But Garcia did not make a decision Tuesday morning and issued a gag order in the case.