Lawmaker Asks Minnesota Freedom Fund to Stop Bailing Out Violent Offenders

(KNSI) – A man, bailed out of jail by the Minnesota Freedom Fund, is now facing murder charges after an alleged road rage-related shooting in Minneapolis, and one lawmaker is calling on them to stop letting violent offenders out of jail.

District 30A Representative Paul Novotny, a former Sherburne County Deputy Sheriff and has 33 years in law enforcement, tells KNSI that the MFF received $20 million in donations in 2020 to bail out those they feel were unjustly arrested during riots and protests following the death of George Floyd. Now, he says they’re using that money to bail out offenders without regard to the charges. He says that has put people accused of murder and sex crimes back on the street.

George Howard was freed from jail by the MFF on August 6th after he was arrested on a domestic abuse charge. August 29th, Howard is accused of gunning down 38-year-old Luis Damian Martinez Ortiz on Interstate 94 near Dowling Avenue North. Novotny says Howard should have been behind bars or had restrictions for his release, adding, “part of the problem that I have with the Minnesota Freedom Fund, is they just spot these people a large amount of cash, and there’s no responsibility. There’s no incentive to remain compliant with the conditions of your release. You’ve got no money into it. It’s not your money, you don’t care.”

Howard has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder after police say he and Ortiz got into a road rage incident on the ramp to 94. Traffic cam footage shows Ortiz getting out of his car and approaching Howard, still in his vehicle. Police say Howard shot Ortiz and then drove away. Ortiz got back into his car and tried to drive away, but he crashed.

Howard is not legally allowed to have a gun due to prior run-ins with the law.

Novotny serves on the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Committee. He called continued stays of adjudication, “repulsive” and says those who donate to this fund and pay to have career criminals and violent offenders back out on the streets “don’t ever worry about the victims.” He says some of the ideas the legislature wants to work on in the future is taking a closer look at the judges that continually give a stay of adjudication to people who commit violent crimes.

It’s a sentiment shared by Rockville area Senator Jeff Howe. He told KNSI last month that many judges are elected and many run unopposed, so voters can’t take to the ballot box and oust judges who aren’t tough on crime.

The Minnesota Freedom Fund did issue a statement via a now-deleted tweet that reads, “We are aware of reports of the tragic and fatal shooting in Minneapolis earlier this week allegedly involving George Howard, an individual the Minnesota Freedom Fund had previously provided with bail support.

“MFF believes that every individual who has been arrested by the law enforcement is innocent until proven guilty, and if a judge deems them eligible for bail, they should not have to wait in jail simply because they don’t have the same income or access to resources as others.

“Under new leadership, MFF has implemented changes to its policies and procedures, and we will continue to assess them to ensure that we are being responsive to the safety and needs of our community.

MFF is closely monitoring developments in the case and will share more information as additional facts become known.”

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