Convicted hit-and-run driver released from Tarrant Co. jail

A convicted hit-and-run driver sentenced to five years in prison has been allowed out free on bond.

Legal observers are floored the judge issued what’s known as an appeals bond considering Omar Mohammed, 26, bought a one-way ticket to Jordan after the hit-and-run and was minutes away from fleeing the country from a flight at DFW Airport.

Mohammed was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for the hit-and-run of 74-year-old Terry Pinkston last February outside of his Arlington neighborhood.

Mohammed's attorney asked Judge Mololee Westfall to allow Mohammed to remain free on bond while he appealed his conviction. After a two hour hearing involving both sides, the judge granted Mohammed a $300,000 bond -- something prosecutor Heather Davenport disagrees with.

"If he’s not a flight risk, I don’t know who is,” Davenport said.

The judge declined to publicly comment on the ruling as well as the family of Mohammed. Mohammed is expected to be outfitted with a GPS ankle bracelet and released on Monday.

The family of Pinkston said they are in complete shock that Mohammed could be released from jail.