59° Fort Worth
All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

Students discuss religious topics in a small group. (Photo courtesy of tcuwesley.org)
Wednesday nights at TCU’s Methodist campus ministry provide religious exploration and fellowship
By Boots Giblin, Staff Writer
Published Mar 27, 2024
Students at the Wesley said they found community on Wednesday nights.

Arrested psychology professor may have charges dropped

Arrested psychology professor may have charges dropped

Court Documents Read about the arrest Police Report Statements from TCU A psychology professor who was jailed in June is in a mental health program, and if the program is completed, his case could be dismissed, his attorneys said.

Charles Frederick Bond Jr. was arrested in June on a misdemeanor charge of making a terroristic threat after police said he sent threatening e-mails to TCU staff members, said Mark Thielman, a prosecutor with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office. The district attorney’s office later added a felony charge of making a terroristic threat because of the number of people threatened by the e-mails, Thielman said.

In September, Bond was accepted into the Tarrant County Mental Health Court Diversion Program, which allows defendants with a mental illness to receive treatment through Tarrant County, said Tim Clancy, one of Bond’s attorneys.

Clancy said Bond, 54, wasn’t threatening anyone with his e-mails and was trying to warn administrators about another faculty member.

According to court documents, while Bond was sending threats to staff members, he was suffering from Bipolar I disorder, which includes suffering from manic episodes with psychotic features and mixed personality disorder.

“The Mental Health Court Diversion Program is for people we believe are not generally criminal,” said Sylvia Mandel, a prosecutor in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office who deals with mental health issues.

The district attorney will not prosecute Bond while he is in the program because it is an alternative to prosecution, Clancy said.

Bond will meet with a committee composed of health officials, a defense attorney, a prosecutor and a judge, Clancy said.

Bond will be admitted into the program for an indefinite period because treatments are based on Bond’s needs, Clancy said.

If Bond completes the program, his case will be dismissed, and he will have the right to have his record expunged, Clancy said.

Tracy Syler-Jones, associate vice chancellor for marketing and communication, declined to comment about Bond because it is a personnel matter, but she did confirm he is on administrative leave from the university.

Bond’s employment attorney, Charla Aldous, said no action has been taken by TCU. He is still employed by the university and is willing and ready to get back to teaching, Aldoussaid.

Mandel said Bond is not allowed on the TCU campus.

Forensic psychiatrist Kelly R. Goodness examined Bond before his release on bail and said he presented a low risk for future dangerous actions and the threats were brought on by an untreated illness, according to court documents.

After his release from jail in July, Bond received a Global Positioning System ankle unit, Clancy said.

More to Discover