KRGV.com

CAMERON COUNTY - Jo Leigh Ares, the businesswoman known as the Park Girl, is heading to the Cameron County jail. A judge set her bond at $1.2 million Thursday morning.

Ares didn't say much at her arraignment Thursday. She has been quiet since the allegations of theft and fraud surfaced more than a month ago.

Ares made her first court appearance in the Valley. The Cameron County Precinct 7 constable and the La Feria police chief brought her into court.

Ares turned herself in to police Wednesday in Hondo, which is west of San Antonio. She was previously arrested in Idaho and released on a fugitive bond. She's charged with four counts of felony theft.

The judge set bond at $300,000 for each count for a total of $1.2 million. The judge says Ares is a flight risk and her previous arrest in Idaho helped determine the bond. Ares would not comment on the high bond. She said she's not aware of the allegations against her.

"I haven't seen the affidavits yet," said Ares.

"There's still more warrants, and there's still more victims. We'll continue with the case and continue to turn the cases in to the DA," says La Feria police Chief Donato Garcia.

Judge Adam Gonzalez says bail bondsmen usually charge 10 percent of a bond. That means it would cost Ares $120,000 to get out of jail.