FEATURING: Defense Attorney Abel Izaguirre, Prosecutor Allen Otto, Public Defender Amalia Beckner, Defense Attorney Andrew Martin, Public Defender Ben Friedman, Public Defender Betsy Martinez, Prosecutor Brett Batchelor, Defense Attorney Chung Lee, Defense Attorney Joa Sherman, Defense Attorney Julio Vela, Defense Attorney Justin Surginer, Defense Attorney Mario Madrid, Defense Attorney Mario Santos, Defense Attorney Rahan Atia, Public Defender Saif Kazim, Defense Attorney Sean McAlister, Defense Attorney Timothy Rose, Defense Attorney Vik Vij, Defense Attorney William Van Buren
CAPITAL MURDER – 1434395 – 351st – Prosecutors Samantha Knecht, Lauren Bard and Kaylynn Williford; Defense Attorneys Doug Durham, Ed Chernoff and Neal Davis III – (17th floor CJC) judge George Powell presiding – DEFENDANT FOUND GUILTY – PUNISHMENT of LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE OR DEATH BEGINS SEPTEMBER 30th – ABC13NEWS
INTOXICATION MANSLAUGHTER – 1544687 – 176th – Prosecutor Brittney Symons and Cameron Mears, Defense Attorney Erik Smith and Sean Evans (18th floor CJC) judge Nikita Harmon presiding
CAPITAL MURDER – (Resume October 16th) 1494344 – 338th – Prosecutors Keaton Forcht and Will Cowardin; Defense Attorneys Cary Higginbotham and Alvin Nunnery (20th Floor CJC) judge Ramona Franklin presiding ABC13NOW
SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD – 1592815 – 180th – Prosecutor Sarah Neyland; Defense Attorneys Jackie Carpenter and Kenneth Hardin (10th floor Civil) judge DaSean Jones presiding
MURDER – 1544713 – 184th – Prosecutors Jamie Burro and Bailee Beilman; Defense Attorneys Emily Shelton, Simone Bray and Cheryl Irving (16th floor CJC) judge Marc Brown presiding
THEFT >$100K <$200K – 1502284 – 183rd – Prosecutors Valerie Turner and Sheila Hansel; Defense Attorney Nathan Mays (19th floor CJC) judge Chuck Silverman presiding
FELON IN POSSESSION OF A WEAPON – 1626850 – 177th – Prosecutor Eddy Tecle; Defense Attorney Skip Cornelius (18th floor CJC) judge Robert Johnson presiding
AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD – 1401254 – 339th – Prosecutor Maegan Williams; Defense Attorney Mike Driver and Crystal Henderon (12th floor Civil) judge Belinda Hill presiding
ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ROBBERY – 1588769 – 70 – 337th – Prosecutor Mary Grace Bullard; Defense Attorney Glenn Youngblood (16th floor CJC) judge Vanessa Velasquez presiding
Congratulations to Prosecutor Brett Batchelor for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1503254 out of the 179th Criminal District Court for the offense of Murder – Sentence: 50 Years in Prison (presiding judge Randy Roll) co-counsel Allen Otto
Good job Brett!
Congratulations to Prosecutor Allen Otto for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1503254 out of the 179th Criminal District Court for the offense of Murder – Sentence: 50 Years in Prison (presiding judge Randy Roll) co-counsel Brett Batchelor
Good job Allen!
The following cases are felony – including RIC (links and PC issues) – and all trial setting dismissals derived from the Harris County District Clerk’s website – dockets tab. I examine each dismissal form before posting, post only those defendants who are free of charges (exceptions apply) and for which I have an attorney photo. These and non-photo cases are entered into the Defense Attorney spreadsheet published on Saturdays. Felony and misdemeanor dismissals are published in the spreadsheets below
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Julio Vela for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2237243 out of County Criminal Court at Law Number 5 for the offense of Assault Family Member
Nice work Julio!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Chung Lee for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2238516 out of County Criminal Court at Law Number 5 for the offense of Assault
Nice work Chung!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Abel Izaguirre for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2257401 out of County Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of Violating a Protective Order
Nice work Abel!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Rahan Atia for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1637174 out of the 337th Criminal District Court for the offense of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle
Nice work Rahan!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Sean McAlister for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1625187 out of the 338th Criminal District Court for the offense of Injury to the Disabled
Nice work Sean!
Congratulations to Public Defender Amalia Beckner for earning felony dismissals for your client in Cause Numbers 1633562 – 1633563 out of the 338th Criminal District Court for the offense of Possession of a Controlled Substance
Nice work Amalia!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Mario Madrid for earning felony dismissals for your client in Cause Numbers 1570487 – 1570488 out of the 262nd Criminal District Court for the offenses of Burglary of a Building and Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
Nice work Mario!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Andrew Martin for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1624603 out of the 174th Criminal District Court for the offense of Sexual Assault
Nice work Andrew!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Justin Surginer for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1602785 out of the 178th Criminal District Court for the offense of Aggravated Assault Family Member
Nice work Justin!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Vik Vij for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1633312 out of the 208th Criminal District Court for the offense of Theft of Firearm
Nice work Vik!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Joa Sherman for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1610199 out of the 209th Criminal District Court for the offense of Assault Family Member
Nice work Joa!
Congratulations to Public Defender Betsy Martinez for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1628287 out of the 209th Criminal District Court for the offense of Possession of a Controlled Substance
Nice work Betsy!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney William Van Buren for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1639390 out of the 228th Criminal District Court for the offense of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
Nice work William!
Congratulations to Public Defender Saif Kazim for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1638635 out of the 228th Criminal District Court for the offense of Assault Family Member
Nice work Saif!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Mario Santos for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1639411 out of the 228th Criminal District Court for the offense of Possession of a Controlled Substance
Nice work Mario!
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Timothy Rose for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1626039 out of the 232nd Criminal District Court for the offense of Aggravated Assault
Nice work Timothy!
Congratulations to Public Defender Ben Friedman for earning a felony dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1614345 out of the 339th Criminal District Court for the offense of Assault Family Member
Nice work Ben!
Number of trials performed by each judge from January 1, 2019 – October 8, 2019 (Includes verdicts, in-trial pleas, in-trial dismissals and hung juries. Trial = jury picked) Source: My personal observations of trials in the courthouse and use of the District Clerk’s website online services
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The number of FAVORABLE VERDICTS by the Prosecutors and Defense Attorneys through October 8, 2019
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ALL VERDICTS from February 1, 2017 – October 8, 2019 (for personal use ONLY)
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January 1, 2018 – October 7, 2019
A Compilation of Not Guilty Verdicts, Mid-Trial Dismissals, Trial-Setting Dismissals and *Special Felony Dismissals (exceptions apply) -For personal use ONLY
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(Source: Harris County District Clerk’s Online Services – CrimDisposMonthly spreadsheet – eliminated dismissals when convicted of another charge or case refiled. Does not include attorneys whose names do not appear as attorney of record on clerk’s spreadsheet)
POINTER:
Before you plead a case make sure you have seen the lab report…Often times the results are either negative or for a lesser amount than was charged…Today in Ex parte Thompson, No. WR-89,601-01, the crim apps (with dissents) handed down an unpublished opinion on the dangers of pleading a client before you have the lab report in hand.
POINTER:
Attorney represents client charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. As a condition of bond, he cannot live at home because his children (one of which is the complainant) live there. He learns that his wife is disparaging him and his reputation, and he wants to retaliate.
Client sends a letter to Attorney. The envelope contains photos of his wife having sex with their 4 year old son (not the complainant). Client believes that the photos will mitigate his punishment if his wife is prosecuted, too.
What does the Attorney do with the photos? What ethical obligation does he have to turn the photos over to the authorities? Should a CPS referral be made, and can it be done anonymously?
Yes, the attorney must contact law enforcement and tender the photos to them. The lawyer is in possession of child pornography and evidence of a serious crime against a child. See Tex. Fam. Code section 261.101.
The Court Reporter has one of the most difficult jobs in the courthouse. Imagine having to listen to EVERY single word in a trial and transcribing it! My hats-off to you! I will try to feature a court reporter each week and offer their tips on how we can make their job a little easier
Linda Hacker has been a court reporter since 1990. She worked freelance until 1994 then from 1994 to 2000 she worked as a substitute for the courts. In 2000 she landed a job as court reporter for the 339th then in 2009 as a court reporter for the 177th. She is currently the court reporter in the 177th – judge Robert Johnson presiding.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
I know other court reporters have said this and I would like to reiterate – PLEASE slow down AND do not talk over each other! We CANNOT take down your words when two people are talking at the same time or talking too fast. Thank you in advance!
PRIOR FEATURED COURT REPORTERS AND THEIR TIPS – CLICK HERE
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Israel Santana and to your family on your daughter Jordan Santana‘s success in qualifying for the NEW Olympic sport of skateboarding! Best of luck in the trials and we hope to see you in the games representing the United States of America!
Defense Attorney Charles Flood’s wife Roush might have the secret ingredient for an Astros championship – her cakes! Read the Chronicle article to see how her cakes helped land our first championship in 2017 and hopefully our second championship in 2019!
Note: All spreadsheets, standings, charts, graphs, compilations are NOT 100% accurate and should not be relied upon as authoritative information.
*Special Felonies – Excludes certain felony dismissals – see “The Making of this Blog – What Goes into It” for the exceptions
“Harris County’s felony judges have come under fire from Commissioners Court members for not moving fast enough to abolish the longstanding practice of judges appointing lawyers to represent poor defendants.
The criticism comes in the wake of a $2.2 million grant awarded to Harris County to create what is known as a managed assigned counsel system in which private lawyers are appointed to indigent defendants by a central authority rather than individual judges. The proposal is supported by a coalition of criminal justice reformers, public defenders and faith leaders. ” Story by Keri Blakinger and Zach Despart – HOUSTON CHRONICLE