If you used a bondsman and the bondsman put the full court-ordered bail bond up to the court for you and accepts a 10% service fee from you, that is most likely going to be non-refundable, whether he is tried guilty, innocent, or goes to prison or jail for a separate charge. As a co-signer, you signed an agreement stating you are taking responsibility for the bail bond amount and agree to pay 10% to the bondsman of whatever the court had decided was the full amount. The bondsman took a risk to put up the full amount, and the 10% is a non-refundable service fee. You can discuss payment plans with the bail bond agency but simply avoiding it or trying not to pay, most likely won’t work out well and you may end up in civil court. Please read the service contract you signed, if you don’t have it, ask for it, so you know what was listed in the fine print.