INSIDER
San Antonio couple sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion, ordered to repay over $350K
Read full article: San Antonio couple sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion, ordered to repay over $350KA San Antonio couple was sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion and aiding and abetting in connection with a camping and fishing business, according to the U.S. Attorneyās Office for the Western District of Texas.
Former Castroville police chief convicted in federal court on wire fraud charge
Read full article: Former Castroville police chief convicted in federal court on wire fraud chargeA former Castroville police chief has been convicted of a wire fraud charge connected to a scheme to fake a vehicle theft, according to the U.S. Attorneyās Office for the Western District of Texas.
San Antonio man among 3 arrested, charged with possessing a āswitchā on their weapons
Read full article: San Antonio man among 3 arrested, charged with possessing a āswitchā on their weaponsA San Antonio man is among three people who were arrested and charged for allegedly possessing a āswitchā on their weapons. A San Antonio man is among three people who were arrested and charged for allegedly possessing a āswitchā on their weapons.
Murder suspect sentenced to 44 years for stabbing security guard at Karnes County Detention Facility
Read full article: Murder suspect sentenced to 44 years for stabbing security guard at Karnes County Detention FacilityA man who was already in the Karnes County Detention Facility for a murder charge has been sentenced to 44 years in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a public servant who tried to stop an attack on an inmate.
BCSO transferred 150 inmates to other county prisons, will move more due to capacity
Read full article: BCSO transferred 150 inmates to other county prisons, will move more due to capacityThe Bexar County Sheriff's Office took to Commissioner's Court Tuesday to explain why they've already shipped 150 inmates to neighboring counties. There are over 100 more that are ready to be moved as well. BCSO has requested over $4 million for the transporting, but Commissioners Court is holding off for now.
Motion to reduce bond denied for second suspect in Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra shooting deaths
Read full article: Motion to reduce bond denied for second suspect in Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra shooting deathsA man charged in connection with the shooting deaths of Savanah Soto, 18, and Matthew Guerra, 22, in late 2023 will have a bond reduction hearing on Monday.
Ex-Medina County Sheriffās Office deputy found guilty of assaulting handcuffed man with pepper spray gun
Read full article: Ex-Medina County Sheriffās Office deputy found guilty of assaulting handcuffed man with pepper spray gunA former Medina County Sheriffās Office deputy was found guilty Thursday for using a high-powered pepper spray gun at close range on a handcuffed suspect that seriously injured the man.
Bexar County Commissionerās Court approves $5 million investment in UTSA basketball, volleyball facility
Read full article: Bexar County Commissionerās Court approves $5 million investment in UTSA basketball, volleyball facilityReferred to as the Roadrunner Nurturing Elite Sports Talent (NEST), the facility aims to prioritize a continued focus on public health and wellness for Bexar County while supporting UTSAās student-athlete population.
Man sentenced to life in prison for killing 56-year-old woman in March 2022
Read full article: Man sentenced to life in prison for killing 56-year-old woman in March 2022A Bexar County jury on Thursday sentenced a 52-year-old man convicted of murder in the shooting death of a 56-year-old woman in March 2022.
As medical perils from abortion bans grow, so do opportunities for Democrats in a post-Roe world
Read full article: As medical perils from abortion bans grow, so do opportunities for Democrats in a post-Roe worldWhen the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Republicans insisted the ruling would mostly impact those seeking abortions to end unwanted pregnancies.
SA man sentenced to 25 years for possessing, distributing 2.3 terabytes of child pornography
Read full article: SA man sentenced to 25 years for possessing, distributing 2.3 terabytes of child pornographyA San Antonio man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for possessing and distributing child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorneyās Office Western District of Texas.
Judge will appoint special master to oversee California federal women's prison after rampant abuse
Read full article: Judge will appoint special master to oversee California federal women's prison after rampant abuseA judge will appoint a special master to oversee a federal women's prison in California known for rampant sexual abuse against inmates.
Children in the courtroom: How Virginia judges are giving kids a voice
Read full article: Children in the courtroom: How Virginia judges are giving kids a voiceJudges found a way to ensure kids are being heard before life-changing decisions are made for their families. One of the ways theyāre doing it is with a goldfish in the courtroom.
Bond reduced for second suspect in Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra shooting deaths
Read full article: Bond reduced for second suspect in Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra shooting deathsA man charged last month in connection with the shooting deaths of Savanah Soto, 18, and Matthew Guerra, 22, had his bond reduced Monday following a hearing in the 186th District Court.
āTruth is I did fireā: Video confession of man alleged to have committed 2018 double murder shown to jury
Read full article: āTruth is I did fireā: Video confession of man alleged to have committed 2018 double murder shown to juryA more than two-hour long interrogation video was shown to a jury in the third day of the Jilson Avelar-Rodriguez capital murder trial.
Family of 13-year-old boy shot by SAPD officer in 2022 files civil lawsuit
Read full article: Family of 13-year-old boy shot by SAPD officer in 2022 files civil lawsuitThe family of a 13-year-old boy who was shot and killed by a San Antonio police officer in June of 2022 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the officer and the City of San Antonio. The officer ā Stephen Ramos ā was no-billed by a Bexar County Jury last February for the shooting death of Andre āAJā Hernandez on June 3, 2022.
Appeals court says Mark Meadows canāt move Georgia election case charges to federal court
Read full article: Appeals court says Mark Meadows canāt move Georgia election case charges to federal courtA federal appeals court has ruled that Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows cannot move charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia to federal court.
Mistrial declared in punishment phase of woman convicted of causing boyfriendās death
Read full article: Mistrial declared in punishment phase of woman convicted of causing boyfriendās deathProsecutors in the trial of a woman convicted of causing the death of her boyfriend brought up past criminal charges to a jury on Monday.
Arboretum San Antonio receives $7.3 million in funding from Bexar County
Read full article: Arboretum San Antonio receives $7.3 million in funding from Bexar CountyThe Bexar County Commissionerās Court approved agreements to help establish San Antonioās future 188-acre Arboretum, allocating $7.3 million in funding.
Judge sentences man to 99 years in prison after sexual abuse of a child conviction
Read full article: Judge sentences man to 99 years in prison after sexual abuse of a child convictionA judge sentenced a San Antonio man to 99 years in prison without the possibility of parole after a Bexar County jury found him guilty of several child sexual abuse charges on Thursday.
Man sentenced for fatally shooting another man mid-argument at illegal game room, DA says
Read full article: Man sentenced for fatally shooting another man mid-argument at illegal game room, DA saysA San Antonio man plead guilty to a 2019 murder in which he fatally shot another man during an argument at an illegal game room, according to the Bexar County District Attorney.
Mother identifies daughterās alleged killer in 911 call played during murder trial testimony
Read full article: Mother identifies daughterās alleged killer in 911 call played during murder trial testimonyA deadly family disturbance in 2019 played out in a courtroom as testimony began in the murder trial of a man accused of fatally shooting his aunt.
Judge, rejecting Trump arguments, signals he'll let New York criminal case stay in state court
Read full article: Judge, rejecting Trump arguments, signals he'll let New York criminal case stay in state courtThe hush money case against former President Donald Trump appears headed back to a New York state court.
San Antonio tax preparer sentenced to 1 year, 1 day of prison for making false tax returns
Read full article: San Antonio tax preparer sentenced to 1 year, 1 day of prison for making false tax returnsA San Antonio tax preparer was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison on Thursday for preparing false tax returns for several years, according to the U.S. Attorneyās Office for the Western District.
San Antonio woman sentenced to 8+ years in prison for meth trafficking
Read full article: San Antonio woman sentenced to 8+ years in prison for meth traffickingA 32-year-old San Antonio woman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after she was found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, according to the United States Attorneyās Office.
Bexar County grand jury no-bills SAPD officer who shot, killed 13-year-old boy in June 2022
Read full article: Bexar County grand jury no-bills SAPD officer who shot, killed 13-year-old boy in June 2022A Bexar County grand jury has no-billed a San Antonio police officer who shot and killed a 13-year-old boy on June 3, 2022.
Brazil election agency rejects Bolsonaro push to void votes
Read full article: Brazil election agency rejects Bolsonaro push to void votesThe head of Brazilās electoral authority has rejected the request from President Jair Bolsonaro's Liberal Party to annul ballots cast on most electronic voting machines, which would have overturned the Oct. 30 election.
Man convicted of forcing women into prostitution sentenced
Read full article: Man convicted of forcing women into prostitution sentencedA Rhode Island man who according to authorities forced multiple women with drug dependencies into prostitution and used violence and starvation to control them has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Pleasanton man sentenced to 6+ years in prison in child pornography case
Read full article: Pleasanton man sentenced to 6+ years in prison in child pornography caseA 70-year-old man from Pleasanton was sentenced to 75 for receipt of child pornography on Monday, according to the U.S. Attorneyās Office.
San Antonio man sentenced to 40 years in prison for brutal attack of former girlfriend with metal baseball bat, DAās office says
Read full article: San Antonio man sentenced to 40 years in prison for brutal attack of former girlfriend with metal baseball bat, DAās office saysA San Antonio man was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Tuesday for the brutal attack of his former girlfriend with a metal baseball bat in 2019, according to the Bexar County District Attorneyās Office.
Woman sentenced to 18 years in prison for boyfriendās murder, Bexar County DAās Office says
Read full article: Woman sentenced to 18 years in prison for boyfriendās murder, Bexar County DAās Office saysA 26-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a murder charge in 2020 for her boyfriendās death was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Monday.
Barrientes Vela trial delayed to August after DA discovery issues emerge
Read full article: Barrientes Vela trial delayed to August after DA discovery issues emergeAttorneys for the one-time Bexar County Precinct 2 constable successfully argued during a 90-minute hearing before Judge Velia Meza decided that they did not have sufficient time to analyze hours of undercover audio recordings from the case.
Tamron Hall show focuses on victims of 'Someone They Knew'
Read full article: Tamron Hall show focuses on victims of 'Someone They Knew'Tamron Hall has plenty on her hands with a successful daytime talk show, but she's going back to her journalism roots with a Court TV series, āSomeone They Knew,ā about murder stories where the victims knew their killer.
Baby caught in custody battle between maternal grandmother and father who is charged with murder
Read full article: Baby caught in custody battle between maternal grandmother and father who is charged with murderSan Antonio grandmother seeking custody of her grandson she's been raising since her daughter was accidentally killed by police in a hostage situation with her common-law husband.
Ex-East Central ISD booster club treasurer avoids prison in fraud case, for now
Read full article: Ex-East Central ISD booster club treasurer avoids prison in fraud case, for nowA San Antonio woman who had until Tuesday to pay back more than $201,000 in restitution in two felony fraud cases has gotten an extension after convincing a judge she is close to extracting equity from property tied up in a related civil lawsuit.
Helping sex assault victims through trauma could help increase prosecutions of sex crimes
Read full article: Helping sex assault victims through trauma could help increase prosecutions of sex crimesThe chief of family division in the Bexar County District Attorneyās Office says many sexual assault cases are very rarely fully prosecuted because victims can't be located or don't want to face their attacker in court.
āHe saved livesā¦you took a lifeā: Family confronts woman accused in SA surgeonās killing in courtroom
Read full article: āHe saved livesā¦you took a lifeā: Family confronts woman accused in SA surgeonās killing in courtroomSandra Vasquez-Kayruz believes her husband was with her as she confronted the woman who killed him.
Sheriff Salazar proposes 30-day release policy for body-cam footage, requests new technology to do so
Read full article: Sheriff Salazar proposes 30-day release policy for body-cam footage, requests new technology to do soBexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar called a press conference Monday afternoon to announce changes to BCSOās policy on body worn cameras.
Spooky Sight: Texas attorney wears Michael Myers costume inside courtroom
Read full article: Spooky Sight: Texas attorney wears Michael Myers costume inside courtroomAs Halloween approaches, itās not unusual to see people dressed up as the legendary movie murderer, Michael Myers. But, the last place youād expect to see the Halloween killer is in a Texas courthouse.
New state law will now allow property owners to remove racial deed restrictions through the courts
Read full article: New state law will now allow property owners to remove racial deed restrictions through the courtsAlthough the restrictions are unenforceable, having been outlawed by the federal government, property owners who donāt want to see those racial restrictions in their property deeds, can have them removed through the courts under a new state law.
Trial for woman accused in hit-and-run death of San Antonio surgeon reset for later this year
Read full article: Trial for woman accused in hit-and-run death of San Antonio surgeon reset for later this yearThe trial of Melissa Peoples was expected to begin Aug. 24, but will be rescheduled for later this year. It was reset due to the current moratorium restricting in-person jury trials.
Spurs unveil plans for massive new training facility, $510M community development on far NW Side
Read full article: Spurs unveil plans for massive new training facility, $510M community development on far NW SideSpurs Sports and Entertainment publicly unveiled plans today for a new nearly 50-acre development on the far Northwest Side that includes a state-of-the-art training facility for the San Antonio Spurs, medical and research offices, retail, park and community space.
Man sentenced to 29 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder, robbery, Bexar County DAās office says
Read full article: Man sentenced to 29 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder, robbery, Bexar County DAās office saysA 27-year-old San Antonio man was sentenced to 29 years in prison after pleading guilty to a 2011 murder and robbery, according to the Bexar County District Attorneyās Office.
San Antonio man pleads guilty in multimillion-dollar scheme, US Attorneyās Office says
Read full article: San Antonio man pleads guilty in multimillion-dollar scheme, US Attorneyās Office saysA San Antonio plead guilty on Tuesday in a multimillion-dollar bribery and government contract fraud scheme, according to The United States Attorneyās Office.
Pre-trial hearing date set for embattled former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes-Vela
Read full article: Pre-trial hearing date set for embattled former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes-VelaThe trial of former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes-Vela and her former captain, Mark Garcia, has moved a step closer to the beginning.
The Texas Senate has approved a new statewide appeals court. Critics contend it's another attempt to limit Democrats' power.
Read full article: The Texas Senate has approved a new statewide appeals court. Critics contend it's another attempt to limit Democrats' power.Bexar County grand juries conclude service under challenging circumstances
Read full article: Bexar County grand juries conclude service under challenging circumstancesSAN ANTONIO ā The circumstances under which the two latest grand juries served were anything but ideal, with the pandemic ongoing and the recent winter storms in the Bexar County area. The 12-member panels met alternately twice weekly in the cavernous central jury room in the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center basement, which made maintaining social distancing ideal. The juries reviewed a combined total of about 1,600 cases, down considerably from a usual average of 2,000 cases per grand jury, according to Rangel. AdHe said maintaining the secrecy that by law must surround grand juries was a challenge due to the sheer size of the central jury room, which can accommodate more than 600 people. āWe had extra security outside the central jury room so that nobody would go into the room that is normally open to the public,ā Rangel said.
Bexar County DAās office, courtrooms, sustain weather-related water damage
Read full article: Bexar County DAās office, courtrooms, sustain weather-related water damageWater also seeped through walls down to three courtrooms on the fourth floor, 187th District Court Judge Stephanie Boyd said. āWe had some major damage in our court coordinatorās office,ā Boyd said. āWeāre trying to keep the courthouse safe from folks coming in and getting sick as a result of the pandemic,ā Rangel said. Rangel said that will likely continue in spite of any water damage. Related: Water pipe bust floods Bexar County DAās office, damages files
Judge denies bond reduction for man accused of killing another man in West Side motel parking lot
Read full article: Judge denies bond reduction for man accused of killing another man in West Side motel parking lotSAN ANTONIO ā Citing a long rap sheet, a judge has denied an accused killerās bid to have his bond reduced. Deeply concerned over testimony detailing 24-year-old Jacob Embreyās criminal record, 226th State District Judge Velia Meza denied Embreyās request to reduce his $200,000 bond on Wednesday. āIn looking at just the video itself, in the beginning, we were able to get a good description of the suspect,ā Pena said during testimony. The suspect was then identified as Embrey, who Pena testified had an extensive criminal record, including arrests on drug and assault charges. āI have requested a $75,000 bond, but anything that you feel might be sufficient would be greatly appreciatedā, defense attorney Eric DeWalt told Judge Meza.
āIām not a cat,ā lawyer tells judge during Zoom call cat-filter faux āpawā
Read full article: āIām not a cat,ā lawyer tells judge during Zoom call cat-filter faux āpawāVideo of the court proceedings, released by Judge Roy Ferguson on social media and on YouTube, shows how the call happened. IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off. #lawtwitter #OhNo @zoom_ushttps://t.co/I0zaj0wu6K ā Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) February 9, 2021āMr. AdāCan you hear me judge?ā Ponton says. ā Judge Roy Ferguson (@JudgeFergusonTX) February 9, 2021Watch the video in full in the player below:Related: Sheriff making changes at the Bexar County jail to address court case backlog
Sheriff making changes at the Bexar County jail to address court case backlog
Read full article: Sheriff making changes at the Bexar County jail to address court case backlogāWeāre going to make sure that the jail is not the reason for that backlogā, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Thursday. He said he is making additional space available in order so that more virtual hearings can be conducted at the jail. āThe reality of it is virtual hearings take up a lot more time,ā Rangel said as he welcomed the sheriffās help. AdāWeāre doing everything we can behind the scenes to keep the process moving,ā Salazar said. āWe know that jury trials are going to be put off for the foreseeable future.āRELATED: District judge says she is āfearfulā of COVID-19 risks related to recent courtroom clerk transfers
District judge says she is āfearfulā of COVID-19 risks related to recent courtroom clerk transfers
Read full article: District judge says she is āfearfulā of COVID-19 risks related to recent courtroom clerk transfersSAN ANTONIO ā When a clerk, who had been assigned to her court, was recently reassigned to another court, 187th District Court Judge Stephanie Boyd became concerned. āWith COVID, of course, everyone is fearful of a lot of cross-movement,ā Boyd said Wednesday. Boyd said, beyond concerns for her staff and people doing business in her court, she has a personal concern. Bexar County District Clerk Mary Angie Garcia said that while she tries to limit transfers it is unavoidable during the coronavirus pandemic. āWe have currently, right now, seven clerks who are out with COVID quarantine and we have to shuffle,ā Garcia said.
Local judges pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with special video
Read full article: Local judges pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with special videoSAN ANTONIO ā When San Antonioās annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march was canceled as local COVID-19 numbers continued to climb, one judge posed a question to his judicial colleagues. āHow can we put a message out to the community letting them know that weāre still with them on this day?ā Quesada asked. The video, Quesada said, was āa sort of substituteā for the March. āImagine trying to get them all to do a video in a certain time so that we can have it all ready for MLK Day,ā Quesada said. Watch the video in full in the player below:Related: San Antonio community leaders reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.ās legacy
Judge will continue mission to help juveniles in new role
Read full article: Judge will continue mission to help juveniles in new roleSAN ANTONIO ā When she was elected to the 289th Juvenile District Court bench last November, Jackie Valdes said the new position allows her to continue her mission as a juvenile prosecutor. āIt was always from the perspective of what is in the best interest of this child to rehabilitate,ā Valdes said Monday. Valdes said her mother, Senior District Judge Maria Teresa āTessaā Herr, encouraged her to seek election. āI felt like the citizens of Bexar County should have a judge who was invested and knowledgeable and cares enough to show up,ā Valdes said. āIt just amazes me that she ends up as a judge in a juvenile court where she still can do what she loves and that is to help kids.āRelated: State district court judge conducts inspection of juvenile facilities in Bexar County
Summonses for civil jury trials in Bexar County are on the way for some residents
Read full article: Summonses for civil jury trials in Bexar County are on the way for some residentsSAN ANTONIO ā Though the moratorium on jury service that was ordered last spring amid fears of spreading the coronavirus remains in place in Bexar County, it has been modified to allow for social distancing. On Monday, the first jury summonses for virtual civil jury trials were mailed to prospective jurors. Schulze, along with Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel and the Bexar County IT Department, developed the new virtual jury system. Rangel says the system only applies to civil jury trials. The entire proceedings, from jury summons to jury selection and testimony, will be done remotely.
Jurors concerned about COVID-19 safety as cases rise in Bexar County
Read full article: Jurors concerned about COVID-19 safety as cases rise in Bexar CountySAN ANTONIO ā The county is examining potential meeting locations for grand juries in the Bexar County Courthouse complex after some jurors expressed concerns for their safety given the rising number of COVID-19 cases locally. With safety protocols in place, grand juries have been meeting throughout the pandemic. On Thursday, State District Judge Velia Meza toured meeting sites for juries within the complex. The locations are not being revealed since all grand jury meetings are secret and confidential. Spike in COVID-19 cases prompts Bexar County judge to temporarily postpone jury selection in capital murder trial
Jury moratorium raises speedy trial concerns for some defendants
Read full article: Jury moratorium raises speedy trial concerns for some defendantsSAN ANTONIO ā As the moratorium on jury trials keeps being extended in Bexar County, so does the time it takes to get a case to trial, pushing some defendants to argue that they are not getting their constitutionally guaranteed right to a speedy trial. Ruben Loredo, 56, is facing a felony charge and four misdemeanor charges in Bexar County for alleging violating protective orders. āIāve been waiting for a long time.āJudges divided on extension of jury trial moratorium in Bexar CountyThat wait became even longer last March when a moratorium on jury trials was ordered due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Roe said his only other option is to agree to a bench trial before a judge rather than a jury trial. Jury service resumption in Bexar County gets closer look
Some undocumented immigrants should again be allowed to apply for DACA protections, federal judge rules
Read full article: Some undocumented immigrants should again be allowed to apply for DACA protections, federal judge rulesAs of March, about 106,000 DACA recipients lived in Texas, and another 86,000 were potentially eligible to apply, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Friday's order follows last month's ruling that acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf wasnāt appointed to the position according to DHS guidelines, rendering a July memo issued on the DACA program invalid. In that memo, DACA protections, which also include a renewable two-year work permit, were slashed to one year. But in his November ruling Garaufis said Wolfās succession didn't follow proper procedure after former secretary Kevin McAleenan left the post in October. āDHS failed to follow the order of succession as it was lawfully designated," Garaufis wrote.
Judges divided on extension of jury trial moratorium in Bexar County
Read full article: Judges divided on extension of jury trial moratorium in Bexar CountySAN ANTONIO ā The moratorium on jury trials ordered in March over concerns about the spreading of COVID-19 will end on Dec. 31. The decision on whether to extend the moratorium is up to Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel. āWe know that we are in a current surge of COVID cases.āJury service resumption in Bexar County gets closer lookSeveral judges in the criminal, civil and misdemeanor courts at the Bexar County Courthouse are anxious to begin conducting in person jury trials. āI believe that we should consider resuming jury trials on a case-by-case basis,ā County Court 11 Judge Tommy Stolhandske said. Stolhandske also noted that Harris and Kendall counties have already resumed in-person jury trials.
Judge denies defendantās bond in bizarre suicide attempt that claimed teenās life
Read full article: Judge denies defendantās bond in bizarre suicide attempt that claimed teenās lifeMan arrested after causing crash that killed teen during attempt to kill himselfBurke ran from the scene but was caught by police soon after the crash. āColby is a very high functioning, very intelligent young man.ā, said Dan Burke, Colby Burkeās father, during the hearing on Monday. Dan Burke said his son is being evaluated by a psychiatrist and treated with medication while in jail. āColby started a new medication about a month ago -- I believe four weeks ago, if Iām not mistaken. āIām not convinced that heās not going to get into a car and do it again,ā Meza said.
Judge orders replacement of clerks, threatens legal action against district clerk if not done by Monday
Read full article: Judge orders replacement of clerks, threatens legal action against district clerk if not done by MondaySAN ANTONIO ā On Thursday, 399th District Court Judge Frank Castro issued an order noting that deputy district clerks assigned to district courts serve at the pleasure of the judges. The order concluded by threatening to hold Bexar County District Clerk Mary Angie Garcia in contempt of court is she did not replace two clerks assigned to his court by Monday. Castro had requested the transfer earlier, according to Garcia. We would do what we had to do,ā Garcia said. āWeāre just trying to make it a smooth operational office,ā Garcia said.
Bexar County Juvenile Board awarded $622K federal grant for mental health program
Read full article: Bexar County Juvenile Board awarded $622K federal grant for mental health programSAN ANTONIO ā The chief Bexar County juvenile probation officer announced Friday that the Bexar County Juvenile Board was awarded a $622,000 federal grant to assist juveniles with mental health issues in transitioning from residential treatment facilities. ā(The program) allows us to work with kids at a time when theyāre very vulnerable,ā Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Lynne Wilkerson said Friday. āWe expect it to include a clinician, an assigned probation officer, of course, a case manager and a family partner,ā Wilkerson said. When the program begins operating, it will be available to all three Bexar County juvenile courts. RELATED: New mental health dispatch program sees 7 mental health calls in first week
Opposition for virtual civil jury trials in Bexar County is growing
Read full article: Opposition for virtual civil jury trials in Bexar County is growingSAN ANTONIO ā Opposition to conduct virtual civil jury trials in Bexar County to address the backlog of court cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic is growing. Another attempt at conducting a virtual civil jury trial is scheduled for November 9th, Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel said Wednesday. In September, a trial failed when all parties could not agree to the proceeding, as is mandated by a Texas Supreme Court order allowing virtual civil jury trials. The president of the local American Board of Trial Advocates says 90% of the groupās membership opposes virtual civil jury trials. āMost of our membership thinks that it would be very difficult to get a true measure of justice from a virtual jury panel.ā
Judge resets accused killerās pretrial hearing after recusal in case
Read full article: Judge resets accused killerās pretrial hearing after recusal in caseJoseph Woolard faces a long list of charges, including a murder charge stemming from a wrong-way traffic wreck last spring. Woolard was a fugitive facing attempted capital murder charges stemming from a shootout with police in March 2019. During a pretrial hearing on Friday, 144th District Court Judge Melisa Skinner recused herself since she had been the prosecutor assigned to Woolardās attempted capital murder case. āIāve had a lot to do with speaking with the family members in those cases, and so I would absolutely have a conflict,ā Judge Skinner said Friday. The caseās future is unclear since Skinner is facing challenger Judge Michael Mery in next monthās election.
KSAT Kids: Today in History, Oct. 2
Read full article: KSAT Kids: Today in History, Oct. 2Today is Friday, Oct. 2, the 276th day of 2020. On Oct. 2, 1967, Thurgood Marshall was sworn as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court as the court opened its new term. In 1941, during World War II, German armies launched an all-out drive against Moscow; Soviet forces succeeded in holding onto their capital. In 1944, German troops crushed the two-month-old Warsaw Uprising, during which a quarter of a million people had been killed. (Miller was tried three times; he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but was released after nine years.)
Bexar County sheriff forced to make courthouse security adjustments amid budget cuts
Read full article: Bexar County sheriff forced to make courthouse security adjustments amid budget cutsSAN ANTONIO ā Effective Thursday, the positions of 16 part-time Bexar County Sheriffās Office deputies tasked with providing security at the county courthouse complex entrances have been eliminated due to budget cuts made by the Commissioners Court. āI feel like (commissioners are) using a permanent solution to a temporary problem,ā Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Thursday. Bexar County Commissioners discuss trimming courthouse security staffThe temporary problem, he said, is reduced traffic at the courthouse due to the pandemic. He said the changes would not compromise the safety of courthouse staff and the public. āBut it still does present some problems for us.āSalazarās Republican challenger in next monthās election, Gerald Rickhoff, said that he shares the sheriffās concern for providing adequate courthouse security.
Woman charged in attempted kidnap of Joe Montana grandchild
Read full article: Woman charged in attempted kidnap of Joe Montana grandchildSodsai Dalzell appears in court for an arraignment Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles. Dalzell is charged with attempted kidnapping of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana's granddaughter. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, Pool)
Chief justice of 4th Court of Appeals with all-female justices applauds diversity in judicial system
Read full article: Chief justice of 4th Court of Appeals with all-female justices applauds diversity in judicial systemSAN ANTONIO ā Late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was once quoted saying that there will be enough women on the high court when all nine justices are women. In South Texas, the 4th Court of Appeals became the first appellate court in the country made up solely of women in 2005. Justice Sandee Bryan Marion is the chief justice. āI think that diversity is a great thing,ā Justice Marion said Friday. Noting the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marion said, āJustice Ginsburg has had a tremendous influence on all women, all women judges, all women lawyers and even little girls.
Texas Supreme Court order OKs virtual jury trials
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court order OKs virtual jury trialsSAN ANTONIO ā In the Texas Supreme Courtās most recent order addressing jury trials during the pandemic, it said virtual civil court jury trials can be conducted starting Oct. 1. āCourts can compel attorneys for both sides, whether they agree or not, to have a virtual jury trial,ā Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel said, referring to the order Monday. He said that he questions virtual trials, period. In his order, which he is drafting this week, Rangel said he has moved the date for virtual jury trials in Bexar County to begin on Nov. 1. Rangel plans to present his local order to the judges, as well as Regional Administrative Judge Sid Harle by weekās end.
From court to curb: Spurs set to roll out new food truck with San Antonio favorites
Read full article: From court to curb: Spurs set to roll out new food truck with San Antonio favoritesFrom court to curb: Spurs set to roll out new food truck with San Antonio favoritesPublished: September 17, 2020, 11:34 amA new Spurs themed food truck serving some AT&T Center favorites will hit the road for the first time next month.
Bexar County Commissioners discuss trimming courthouse security staff
Read full article: Bexar County Commissioners discuss trimming courthouse security staffSAN ANTONIO ā Trimming the courthouse security staff was among the suggestions made during a Bexar County Commissioners budget workshop, a suggestion to which the sheriff took strong exception. The halls of the Bexar County Courthouse and Cadena-Reeves Justice Center are virtually empty since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March. Bexar County constables unhappy with proposed county budgetBexar County Manager David Smith took note of the empty halls when he addressed Commissioners Court and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar during a budget workshop on Thursday as they discussed security staffing in both buildings. āWe recommend nine vacant court security positions be deleted for, I think, obvious, reasons,ā Smith said. There is one more budget workshop scheduled for next Monday before the budget is formally adopted the following day.
The Backstory: Kendall Countyās first elected district court judge reflects on past two years in office, plans for future
Read full article: The Backstory: Kendall Countyās first elected district court judge reflects on past two years in office, plans for futureBOERNE, Texas ā When former Kendall County Judge Kirsten Cohoon took her place as 451st District Court Judge in January 2018, she became the countyās first elected State District Court Judge, defeating an incumbent appointed by the governor. While creating the court, the Legislature eliminated several positions, including the county judge, leaving Cohoon with a challenging workload. āI really donāt think of that,ā Cohoon said. āAnd I donāt think Kendall County does either.āIn Kendall County, the district clerkās office, county clerkās office, district attorneyās office and four justice of the peace offices are all led by women, leaving Cohoon in good company. āI would like to see us work harder and be able to be back in court,ā Cohoon said.
Texas Supreme Court decision makes changes to civil lawsuit service
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court decision makes changes to civil lawsuit serviceAUSTIN A decision from The Texas Supreme Court will significantly change how parties in a civil lawsuit can receive notification. Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocks Harris County from sending mail-in ballot applications to all its votersPreviously, it was done in person by a constable, his or her deputies or a licensed process server. There are people who love to the hack in there to change things, Buford said. Its just gonna make things difficult.The method of service must be approved by the judge in whose court the litigation is filed. Verification of service through e-mail is acceptable, and some consider the new methods faster and more economical, but not everyone.
Judge holds first of its kind remote hearing in Bexar County
Read full article: Judge holds first of its kind remote hearing in Bexar CountySAN ANTONIO ā Last summer, Brandon Lee, 31, was arrested on drug charges, and on Wednesday, District Court Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl sentenced him to prison during a first-of-its-kind remote hearing. Zoom court hearing hacking in Bexar County prompts close look at protocolThe judge, prosecutor, defense attorney and Lee were all participating remotely. Lee was in a probation department conference room, flanked by a sheriffās deputy, in a coordinated procedure involving the probation department, the Bexar County Sheriffās Office and the court. Following Leeās punishment, Judge Torres-Stahl told him, āThe deputy there is going to take you into custody and transport you to the Bexar County Jail until you can be transferred.āThe deputy then walked Lee across the street to the jail. Noting that she has two similar hearings set for next week, Torres-Stahl said, āI think it is something we will continue to do.
State agency OKs resuming in-person jury trials on Oct. 1
Read full article: State agency OKs resuming in-person jury trials on Oct. 1SAN ANTONIO The state Office of Court Administrations September order outlining guidelines for resuming in-person jury trials recommended that trials begin on Oct. 1. But the decision on when to continue jury trials was left up to each countys local administrative judge. I am looking at the beginning of the year unless factors change, Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel said Wednesday. According to Rangel, the final decision on resuming in-person jury trials will be made based on input from all of the countys judges. Others prefer to proceed with caution.A moratorium on jury service was ordered in early March over concerns of spreading the coronavirus.
Kendall County district court judge conducting first live jury trial since COVID-19 outbreak
Read full article: Kendall County district court judge conducting first live jury trial since COVID-19 outbreakBOERNE, Texas ā Testimony continued Tuesday in an assault trial in District Judge Kirsten Cohoonās 431st District Court in Kendall County. There have been no live jury trials in the area since the COVID-19 outbreak in March, fearing an outbreak of the virus. Rangel said conducting live jury trials in Bexar County will depend solely on COVID-19 statistics. Rangel said he has no plans to conduct a live jury trial in Bexar County until at least October. The next live jury trial in Kendall County is scheduled for Oct. 5.
Judge denies bond reduction in arson case, cites governorās executive order
Read full article: Judge denies bond reduction in arson case, cites governorās executive orderFollowing her release from the hospital for treatment of burns over 25% of her body, Salinas was arrested on arson charges and jailed in lieu of $75,000 bond. āYou want to f*** with meā: Woman accused of torching manās car before they both caught fireOn Thursday, Salinasā lawyer, Angela Tavares, asked that her client be released on a personal recognizance bond. He also told the court that his motherās ex-boyfriend, Alejandro Megana, told him that the fire was an accident. āI cannot get the adequate medicine for my pain, so pain is always an issue,ā she testified from jail during Thursdayās remote hearing. Greg Abbott last spring that forbids personal recognizance bonds in violent felony cases, Judge Velia Meza denied Salinasā request and ordered that her $75,000 bond remain in place.