Governor Greg Abbott has said he’s eliminating jail time as a punishment for violating COVID-19 orders.
AUSTIN, Texas — After a Texas hair salon owner was sentenced to jail for defying a closure order, Gov. Greg Abbott said the punishment is no longer on the table. In a tweet Thursday morning, the governor said he is “eliminating jail for violating an order, retroactive to April 2, superseding local orders. Criminals shouldn’t be released to prevent COVID-19 just to put business owners in their place.”Abbott also said throwing Texans in jail whose businesses shut down “through no fault of their own is wrong.”The decision comes after Dallas hair salon owner Shelley Luther refused to close her business. She was booked in the Dallas County jail on Tuesday afternoon following a video hearing, during which she was found in contempt of court. The hearing occurred as Gov. Greg Abbott relaxed more restrictions statewide, allowing barbershops and hair salons to reopen Friday.
