Hardin County Judge Responds After Boykin’s Release From Jail
- Rita Shipp
- Sep 18
- 4 min read
Continuing Coverage
HARDIN COUNTY, Texas — One day after the East Texas Banner confirmed that Remington Duvall Boykin, 26, bonded out of the Hardin County Jail the same day he was booked on new charges, County Judge Wayne McDaniel issued a public statement distancing himself from the case amid community backlash.
McDaniel’s statement, released Thursday, emphasized that he has no jurisdiction over felony cases and was not involved in decisions related to Boykin’s charges or bond.
“The felony allegations against this individual to date are filed in the District Court… I have not been involved in the Remington Boykin cases,” McDaniel wrote. “As a judge, I remain impartial and do not engage in matters outside of my assigned responsibilities.”
Boykin’s arrests and charges
Boykin’s name has surfaced in multiple counties since late August.
Aug. 31, 2025 (Jasper County): Deputies say Boykin assaulted a woman and injured a 3-month-old infant in the Tiger Creek community while also brandishing a shotgun. He was booked on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, injury to a child (criminal negligence), and interfering with an emergency request, and also faced a Jefferson County warrant for tampering with a government record.
Bond history: Records show his combined Jasper bond was initially $555,000 but was later changed to no bond, holding him in custody.
Sept. 3, 2025 (Hardin County): Prosecutors filed a separate case tied to 2024 allegations from a former girlfriend, including aggravated kidnapping and assault.
Sept. 17, 2025 (Hardin County): ETB confirmed with jail officials that Boykin was booked and released the same day after posting bond. While some outlets continued to report he remained in custody, ETB verified his release directly with the jail.
Details of the 2024 case
According to probable cause affidavits filed in Hardin County, events escalated on Aug. 3, 2024 at a home outside Lumberton:
The victim reported Boykin had hidden her phone for several days and became enraged when confronted.
As she walked down the road for help, Boykin allegedly pulled up in his truck, brandished a gun, and forced her back inside.
Inside, he allegedly yelled, “How deep do you want your grave?”
He then allegedly carried her to a bedroom, threw her on a bed, and smothered her face with pillows three times.
When she resisted, he allegedly grabbed her by the throat, choking her until “everything started going black.”
Investigators say a recorded phone call later captured Boykin acknowledging aspects of the incident, telling the victim: “I let my anger get the best of me,” and “I made a mistake, it happens.”
Current Hardin County charges
Boykin faces:
Aggravated Kidnapping – Family Violence (first-degree felony)
Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Family Violence (first-degree felony)
Aggravated Assault Impeding Breath/Circulation – Family Violence (second-degree felony)
If convicted of the first-degree charges, he could face up to life in prison.
McDaniel’s statement
Judge McDaniel’s Sept. 18 statement sought to clarify his role, saying felony cases fall under the District Court, not the County Court he presides over. He stressed that each elected official in Hardin County manages their own staff and responsibilities under Texas law.
He also voiced support for Sheriff Mark Davis, who has faced separate controversies this week, calling him a leader who “works hard to combat crime and knows full well how to best administer his Office.”
McDaniel closed by assuring residents that Hardin County has “many competent, talented, and hardworking public servants.”
Why the bond situation has left the public confused
Boykin’s release has triggered both outrage and confusion across East Texas.
In Jasper County, following his Aug. 31 arrest, Boykin was initially booked on a combined $555,000 bond. That bond was later revoked, and he was ordered held without bond while those charges remained pending.
In Hardin County, prosecutors filed a case stemming from 2024 allegations. On Sept. 17, a judge set bonds totaling $600,000 across three new charges:
$250,000 for Aggravated Kidnapping with a Deadly Weapon (Family Violence)
$250,000 for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Family Violence)
$100,000 for Aggravated Assault Impeding Breath/Circulation (Family Violence)
Boykin was booked into the Hardin County Jail on Sept. 17 and released within hours after posting bond.
Texas law generally provides the right to bond outside of limited circumstances, but to many residents, the difference between Jasper’s no-bond hold and Hardin’s decision to set bond has fueled frustration and questions about consistency in the system.
At the time of his Jasper County arrest, Boykin was also wanted in Jefferson County on a felony warrant for tampering with a government record. As of Thursday, it remains unclear whether that warrant has been served or if additional proceedings in Jefferson County are pending.
What’s next
Boykin remains under indictment in multiple counties, with cases pending in Jasper, Hardin, and Jefferson.
Court dates for both the Jasper and Hardin County cases are still to be set. The Jefferson County felony warrant for tampering with a government record remains outstanding, though its current status has not yet been confirmed.
The East Texas Banner will continue directly verifying developments in this case.
All charges remain allegations, and Boykin is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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