Criminal Law Blog
Former District Attorney Out On Parole After Serving 20 Months of a 15 YEAR Sentence
Former Rockwall District Attorney Ray Sumrow got caught with his hand in the till, literally, and was tried, convicted, sentenced, and thrown in jail for being a thief. And less than two years later, he’s out. Ray Sumrow has an interesting story. He was the head prosecutor in Rockwall for SIX terms. He was named “Prosecutor of the Year”…
Texas Trial Judge Kevin Fine Gets Lotsa Media Play Over Death Penalty Ruling
Last week, over in Houston, a state district court judge (read that, trial judge) who’s still pretty new to the job, ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional. This got lots and lots and LOTS of media coverage. This week, Judge Kevin Fine changed his mind. He’s rescinded that ruling and he’s set the matter…
500+ Guns Missing From Texas Police Dept Evidence Room – FBI, Texas Rangers Investigating
It all started when a pawn shop over in Humble, Texas, was subjected to a search by the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. ATF had a warrant, and they took possession of 112 guns that — come to find out — were last seen in the evidence locker of a Texas police department. How’d they…
Texas Cop John Gore Busted on Arson Charges – Investigation Going Back 9 Years
After serving three years as a Mineral Wells police officer, John Gore’s life has taken a drastic turn: he’s now a criminal defendant, facing two counts of arson and one count of arson causing bodily injury. And it’s not over — Gore apparently gave information about an accomplice and setting 7 fires while he was being…
Another Texas District Judge Indicted on Felony Charges and Jailed on Friday
Last September, everyone in Kerrville was surprised when District Judge Karl Prohl suddenly resigned from the bench, with more than a year left in his term. The Kerrville Daily Times reported on how Judge Prohl’s letter of resignation — effective immediately — shocked the courthouse. One staffer supposed that at the age of 69, and…
Retired Tex Ranger Buckaloo Heads New Texas Team to Stop Corrupt Cops
For many years, Clete Buckaloo was one the elite as a member of the Texas Rangers. Then, he retired as a Ranger and took the job as the head of the 216th Judicial District probation office, doing his thing for the probation department for awhile. Then, late last month, former Texas Ranger Clete Buckaloo turned…
Former El Paso Criminal Judge Manuel Barraza Found Guilty by Jury – Going to Jail
Late last week, a federal jury came back with their verdict in the case of the United States v. Manny Barraza over in El Paso. The verdict? Former Criminal District Court Judge Manuel Joseph Barraza was guilty of two (2) counts of wire fraud and the deprivation of honest services and one (1) count of…
Irving Cop Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Feds
You know they thought this was a great idea, maybe even genius. The Department of Housing and Urban Development up in Washington, D.C. implemented a program where law enforcement officers could get a house at HALF-PRICE as long as they bought a home in a pre-selected neighborhood, known to be less than stellar. That’s right: cops…
Felony Deadly Conduct Case Dismissed
Garland Police arrest and charge client with Felony Deadly Conduct; Case Dismissed, No Probation
Can We Trust Texas Crime Labs? NO.
Many, many, many criminal defense attorneys in the State of Texas cast a wary eye at any test results coming out of crime labs in this state, because all too often, state forensic evidence has shown itself to be faulty. Unlike the CSI shows on TV, all sorts of crazy stuff appears to happen in…
