May 20 Update: The jury trial has been vacated and a plea agreement has been filed. Dobrenz is scheduled for a change of plea hearing June 3.
A District Court judge won’t reduce the bail for Kaleb Dobrenz, who is sitting in the Hill County jail on a $100,000 bond.
In January, Dobrenz allegedly eluded and then assaulted law enforcement officers. He is charged with two counts of felony assault on a peace officer, and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer.
On Monday, Dobrenz turned down a plea agreement offered by the Hill County Attorney’s Office. Instead, Dobrenz and his public defender, Sam Harris, decided to go to trial, set to begin May 16.
Kaleb Dobrenz, Hill County Detention Center
Dobrenz asked that his bail be reduced to something that would be possible to pay. He suggested $10,000 or $20,000. He would work on the family ranch, he said, or at a local retail store.
The state, represented by Deputy County Attorney Penelope Oteri, objected to any bail reduction.
“He absolutely won’t follow any of the rules put on him,” Oteri said in court. “He can’t be trusted to be truthful.”
At the time of his arrest, Dobrenz was on conditions of release because of other incidents, including one in which he allegedly strangled his partner.
Hill County District Judge Kaydee Snipes-Ruiz ruled that Dobrenz’s bail will stay at $100,000 since he has an upcoming trial anyway.
In January, Dobrenz was found to be near a woman he was not allowed to have any contact with. To evade capture, he jumped headfirst through a window and ran down the street until deputies caught up, according to charging documents.
Before getting him under control, deputies tased Dobrenz three times. During the struggle, he managed to mule kick the deputies, court documents say.
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