A Fort Worth woman found not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with the July 2024 dragging of a federal police officer could be released from custody, but a federal district judge is expected to decide within the next two weeks whether to send her home under strict conditions or keep her behind bars. Juliza Aguilar has been in custody for around two years while the case moved through competency evaluations, an insanity finding, and now a decision on release.
Judge Weighing Home Confinement With Ankle Monitor
Aguilar was found not guilty by reason of insanity earlier in 2026, according to FOX 4 News. Multiple evaluations conducted over the six months leading up to Friday's hearing determined she had reached a suitable mental state for release with conditions, and attorneys used the hearing to hash out what those conditions might look like. The station reports the district judge is expected to decide within the next 14 days whether Aguilar will be released or remain in jail.
Those potential conditions include confining Aguilar to her family's home with an ankle monitor, or placing her on a curfew, per the station's report. The outlet notes Aguilar's family declined to comment on the proceedings. It remains unresolved whether the family's home would ultimately be approved as a release location.
What Happened at the Printing Office in July 2024
The incident that led to the case unfolded in July 2024 at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing office off Blue Mound Road in Fort Worth, where Aguilar worked. Investigators said she acted erratically toward her boss over a performance issue before pulling the fire alarm, exiting the building, and hitting Officer Joe Lock with her vehicle, the same account states.
Lock was run over, dragged, and pinned by the vehicle, resulting in the amputation of his leg, according to the report. A separate account from the Star-Telegram described the surgery in more detail, reporting that Lock underwent an operation to amputate his right leg near the knee and that he also suffered a fractured hip.
Conflicting Accounts of Charges and Service Record
Court records show the case is listed in the Texas Northern District Court as USA v. Aguilar, case number 4:24-mj-00567, filed in July 2024, according to a filing tracked by PacerMonitor. Accounts of the charges against Aguilar vary: the station's more recent report describes her as charged with assault of a peace officer and attempted murder, while the Star-Telegram's earlier coverage described her as charged with assault of a federal officer.
Lock's length of service is also described differently across reports. The station's account calls him a 35-year veteran police officer, while the Star-Telegram, citing a GoFundMe set up for his family, reported he had served 33 years as a police officer in Texas at both the municipal and federal levels.
Lock Returned to Work, Plans Retirement This Year
Following the incident, Lock returned to work on light duty at the same printing office in Fort Worth, the station reports. He is set to retire later in 2026. In comments to the station, Lock said he will live with a disability and that his life will be limited going forward, adding that he is curious what consequences Aguilar will face for the rest of her life.
Police Union Pushes Back on Proposed Release
The Texas Fraternal Order of Police sent a letter to the judge expressing strong opposition to Aguilar being released to her family's home, per the same report. The union's objection adds a formal law enforcement voice to a case that has already drawn attention over Lock's injuries and lengthy recovery.
Federal law governing cases like Aguilar's requires that a person found not guilty only by reason of insanity be committed to a suitable facility until becoming eligible for release under the applicable statutory process, according to federal statute. A related provision outlines that the examination process for release must address whether a mental disease or defect means the person's release would create a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person or serious damage to property, according to 18 U.S.C. § 4247. The district judge's ultimate decision on Aguilar's release has not yet been issued.
