Prosecutors to request bond increase for murder suspect this morning

Editor's note: This video is from Tuesday night's coverage about this suspect.

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Stephon Morson, accused in an October 2024 murder on Burton Drive in southeast Austin, is due in court Wednesday morning.

He was released from jail earlier this month.

KXAN's Brianna Hollis will be present in the courtroom, you can follow live updates below on the social media platform X.

According to the District Attorney's Office, prosecutors are presenting a motion to increase his bond.

Morson's bond was originally set at $800,000, but a judge lowered it to $100, according to court records.

“Usually, you’re not seeing murder bonds reduced to 100 dollars unless there’s a very good self-defense argument, or you do have a missed indictment deadline,” said defense attorney Ben Gergen. He is not connected to this case.

Court documents show the missed indictment deadline led to the drastic bond drop for Morson. According to records filed by Morson’s attorney Brian Erskine, “bail must be reduced to something the defendant can afford," when this happens.

The deadline is 90 days after an arrest. Prosecutors secured an indictment on the 91st day.

"It is the State’s position that under Texas case law, the Court has the power to increase bond when a change in circumstances has occurred: in this case, the grand jury has issued an indictment alleging a serious offense.," the District Attorney's Office said in a statement. "The State hopes that the Court will exercise the authority given to it under Texas law, an authority numerous Courts of Appeals have recognized."

KXAN will update this story throughout this morning's court proceedings.