After ex-SAPD officers’ acquittal, police union and defense attorneys call for accountability
Read full article: After ex-SAPD officers’ acquittal, police union and defense attorneys call for accountabilityA day after three former San Antonio police officers were acquitted in the 2023 shooting death of Melissa Perez, both the San Antonio Police Officers Association and the defense team are demanding accountability and political change in Bexar County.
FULL VERDICT TIMELINE: The 21st — and final day — in trial of ex-SAPD officers charged with Melissa Perez’s murder
Read full article: FULL VERDICT TIMELINE: The 21st — and final day — in trial of ex-SAPD officers charged with Melissa Perez’s murderFollowing approximately 90 minutes of deliberations, the jury returned not guilty verdicts for Eleazar Alejandro, Alfred Flores and Nathan Villalobos on Monday afternoon.
Prosecution rebuttal witness disqualified from testifying to jury in ex-SAPD officers’ murder trial
Read full article: Prosecution rebuttal witness disqualified from testifying to jury in ex-SAPD officers’ murder trialA longtime forensic criminologist ended testimony on Friday as the trial of three ex-SAPD officers charged in Melissa Perez’s 2023 death completed its 20th day.
Retired SAPD detective spoke to 3 officers who drew their weapons — but did not fire — at Melissa Perez
Read full article: Retired SAPD detective spoke to 3 officers who drew their weapons — but did not fire — at Melissa PerezLisa Miller, a former San Antonio police detective and sergeant, took the stand on Monday afternoon in the trial of three ex-officers charged in Melissa Perez’s 2023 death.
Judge denies multiple state expert witnesses from testifying in Melissa Perez murder trial
Read full article: Judge denies multiple state expert witnesses from testifying in Melissa Perez murder trialThe joint defense of three former SAPD officers asked presiding Judge Ron Rangel to bar state expert witnesses from taking the stand on Monday.
Questioning of SAPD officer continues in Day 4 of ex-officers charged in Melissa Perez’s death
Read full article: Questioning of SAPD officer continues in Day 4 of ex-officers charged in Melissa Perez’s deathOnly one witness took the stand for nearly four-and-a-half full hours of testimony on Tuesday. That same witness, SAPD officer Jesus Rojas, spent the entirety of Wednesday back on the bench.
WATCH LIVE: Day 2 in trial of ex-SAPD officers charged in death of San Antonio woman continues Monday
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Day 2 in trial of ex-SAPD officers charged in death of San Antonio woman continues MondayThe 2023 police shooting of Melissa Perez, a case that drew national attention, has resumed court proceedings on Monday morning.
Tensions boil again as trial is underway for ex-SAPD officers charged in death of San Antonio woman
Read full article: Tensions boil again as trial is underway for ex-SAPD officers charged in death of San Antonio womanTwo days after a feisty pretrial hearing, the prosecution and the defense sparred once more on Day 1 of the ex-officers’ trial Friday inside the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center.
Trial for former UCISD officer charged in connection with Robb Elementary shooting to be held in Corpus Christi
Read full article: Trial for former UCISD officer charged in connection with Robb Elementary shooting to be held in Corpus ChristiThe trial for former Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales, who was charged in connection with the Robb Elementary School shooting, will be held next year in Corpus Christi, Texas, his attorney confirmed to KSAT on Tuesday.
Attorney says his client defended himself in deadly Jonathan Joss shooting, denies hate crime claim
Read full article: Attorney says his client defended himself in deadly Jonathan Joss shooting, denies hate crime claimThe attorney for the man accused of killing actor Jonathan Joss earlier this month is speaking publicly for the first time, claiming his client acted in self-defense and is not guilty of any hate-based motive.
What happens next in the Brad Simpson case?
Read full article: What happens next in the Brad Simpson case?After Brad Simpson's indictment on murder and tampering with evidence charges was handed down, a San Antonio defense attorney not connected to the case outlined the next steps in the legal process.
Attorney of mother accused of pranking son’s bully says no law was broken
Read full article: Attorney of mother accused of pranking son’s bully says no law was brokenAttorney Nico LaHood said the charges against his client — a mother accused of giving her son’s alleged bully a non-toxic, concocted drink — were manufactured to fit a circumstance that was never criminal.
More than 6,000 criminal cases dismissed by DA’s office in 3 months, county report shows
Read full article: More than 6,000 criminal cases dismissed by DA’s office in 3 months, county report showsOn average, Gonzales dismisses 45.7% more cases than former DA Nico LaHood, according to a KSAT analysis of quarterly county reports.
WATCH LIVE: Sentencing continues for convicted ex-constable Barrientes Vela
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Sentencing continues for convicted ex-constable Barrientes VelaSentencing continues Tuesday for Michelle Barrientes Vela less than two weeks after a jury convicted her on two felony charges of tampering with government records..
Jury deliberating fate of Barrientes Vela in felony tampering case
Read full article: Jury deliberating fate of Barrientes Vela in felony tampering caseA Bexar County jury began deliberations Thursday afternoon in the felony tampering with records case against indicted ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela.
State rests in case against Barrientes Vela, but not before fiery cross-examination of Texas Ranger
Read full article: State rests in case against Barrientes Vela, but not before fiery cross-examination of Texas RangerThe prosecution rested its case Wednesday afternoon in the public corruption trial of Michelle Barrientes Vela, capping off seven days of testimony that ranged from methodical to explosive and included a mistrial nearly being declared.
Public corruption trial for Michelle Barrientes Vela slated for this week. Here’s what to know.
Read full article: Public corruption trial for Michelle Barrientes Vela slated for this week. Here’s what to know.The former Bexar County Precinct 2 constable, who stepped down in late 2019 after triggering the state’s resign-to-run law, faces two felony counts of tampering with evidence.
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.
Marc LaHood wins GOP nomination for Bexar County DA, will face incumbent Joe Gonzales in November
Read full article: Marc LaHood wins GOP nomination for Bexar County DA, will face incumbent Joe Gonzales in NovemberFind the latest, updated election results for the 2022 primary election in Texas on March 1, 2022.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZPI5GN6Q2JHS7FYXZSXTUREZII.jpg)
Attorneys for Barrientes Vela file motion to have DA Gonzales kicked off of case
Read full article: Attorneys for Barrientes Vela file motion to have DA Gonzales kicked off of caseThe upcoming public corruption trial of indicted ex-Bexar County constable Michelle Barrientes Vela took another turn this week as her attorneys filed a formal motion to have District Attorney Joe Gonzales removed from the case.
Trial could begin for man accused of committing capital murder over 30 years ago
Read full article: Trial could begin for man accused of committing capital murder over 30 years agoMore than 30 years ago in January of 1987, a 25-year-old San Antonio woman was found dead inside of a bathtub in her home.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EK3QV5PDNZFFFM45BY6J33Z42I.jpg)
LaHood, former DA political consultant spar during Barrientes Vela hearing
Read full article: LaHood, former DA political consultant spar during Barrientes Vela hearingFormer Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood and the person who helped the current DA knock him out of office sparred Thursday during an evidentiary hearing in the case against indicted former constable Michelle Barrientes Vela.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/02-26-2020/t_03bb42764faf43bd8e03c684189dc5f9_name_image.jpg)
Barrientes Vela makes first court appearance since being indicted on felony charges
Read full article: Barrientes Vela makes first court appearance since being indicted on felony chargesSAN ANTONIO – Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela on Wednesday morning made her first court appearance since her arrest last month on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. Surrounded by family members and a group of supporters, Barrientes Vela was in and out of court in under an hour. Supporters at one point yelled “Collier coward,”and tried to block a KSAT 12 photographer from recording footage of Barrientes Vela outside court. Barrientes Vela faces one felony count of aggravated perjury, two felony counts of tampering with evidence and three misdemeanor counts of official oppression. Prosecutors accuse Barrientes Vela of lying in her sworn statements about Deputy Leonicio Moreno, who had filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against her.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/FB2MT3AHTBA5JIORITFVSBQHEM.png)
Could Bexar County be next to decriminalize marijuana?
Read full article: Could Bexar County be next to decriminalize marijuana?SAN ANTONIO – In February, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg unveiled a new program that would decriminalize marijuana offenses in the county. The diversion program gives those caught with a misdemeanor amount of marijuana (4 ounces or less) the opportunity to take a course. Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood recently commented on the new Harris County program and if it’s a plan Bexar County is looking into. “After reviewing Harris County’s marijuana diversion program, I believe there are some unintended consequences in its long term use and it would not be beneficial to Bexar County as it is written. I have engaged in conversations with Chief (William) McManus and Sheriff (Javier) Salazar and will be organizing a meeting with County commissioners to discuss possibly implementing a program that would benefit Bexar County.”The Harris County policy went into effect March 1st.