By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
Ellis County Commission candidate Lisa Boyd on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to shooting a Roman candle at her neighbors and violating a protection order.
Boyd, Victoria, was back in court via Zoom for arraignment in Ellis County District Court.
During the hearing, Boyd pleaded not guilty to three felonies and three misdemeanor charges in two separate cases.
The three felony charges — two counts of aggravated battery and one count criminal threat — stem from a July 4 incident where she is alleged to have shot a Roman candle at her neighbors, including a teenager.
The three violation of a protection order charges are misdemeanors.
Boyd has been in jail since the July 4 incident and has had several requests to be released on bond denied. But at Tuesday’s hearing, Chief Judge Glenn Braun granted Boyd’s bond, with restrictions.
An official with High Plains Mental Health Center testified that she did not believe that Boyd was a danger to herself or others. She has agreed to continue working with High Plains Mental Health.
As a condition of Boyd’s release, she will live in Russell and only be allowed to go to her residence in Victoria once in the morning and once in the evening to take care of her pets.
When Boyd was able to set up her residence in Russell, she would be released on her own recognizance — meaning she did not have to post bail. If she violates terms of her release, she will be taken back into custody and held on $70,000 bond.
During the hearing, Eric James was seen recording the hearing, which is not allowed by the court, and he and Boyd’s daughter were removed from the hearing.
They had been called as witnesses by the defense to discuss where Boyd could stay upon her release.
Braun said James had made comments in the past against him that could have been considered threats and would not put him under oath.
Boyd will be staying with James in Russell and the two are not allowed to be at Boyd’s Victoria home at the same time.
A pretrial hearing was scheduled for a later date.
Boyd is running for Ellis County Commission as a Democrat in the Third District, a seat is currently held by Republican Dean Haselhorst. The two will face off in the November primary election.