Ellis County & District Attorney
RE-ELECT
COMPLETED INITIATIVES
Veterans' Treatment Court
As the daughter of a United States Air Force Korean War Veteran, I support the men and women who have served our country. I have supported a Veteran's Treatment Court for those who find themselves in the criminal justice system.
First Time Drug Offenders
In 2021, I started working with the misdemeanor courts to create a pre-trial diversion program for first-time misdemeanor drug offenses. This type of program has saved Ellis County citizens' court-appointed attorney funds and reduced recidivism.
Citizen Prosecutor Academy
In 2022, I began the first ever Citizens Prosecutor Academy in Ellis County. Through these classes, the office educated citizens, created relationships, and imparted knowledge of the criminal justice system. This was at no added expense to the taxpayers of the County.
Communication
Beginning in 2021, I opened the lines of communication with all parties in the criminal justice system to ensure that our office was making effective and efficient use of the taxpayers' money.
SUCCESSFUL VERDICTS
Misdemeanor:
2021 - 1403 cases filed // 1679 cases resolved to final disposition
2022 - 903 cases filed // 1535 cases resolved to final disposition
19 juries seated (16 guilty, 2 not guilty, 1 hung jury)
2023 - 2848 cases filed // 1835 cases resolved to final disposition
33 juries seated (22 guilty, 9 not guilty, 3 hung)
Total: 5154 cases filed // 5049 cases resolved to final disposition
Felony:
2021 - 1162 cases indicted // 1064 cases resolved to final disposition
2022 - 1267 cases indicted // 1303 cases resolved to final disposition
21 juries seated (27 guilty, 5 not guilty, 5 hung)
2023 - 1915 indicted // 1829 resolved to final disposition
24 juries seated (31 guilty, 4 not guilty, 3 hung)
2021 - 8 homicides indicted to include 5 murder/capital murder
2022 - 15 homicides indicted to include 7 murder/capital murder
2023 - 15 homicides indicted to include 9 murder/capital murder
Total - 2021 - 11/2023 - 4,344 indicted //4,196 resolved
Statistically, the number of violent felonies indicted has increased to over 20%. Also, the number of reactivated felonies has doubled since 2020.
Capital Murder/Murder Convictions 2022 - 23:
Guy Lynch - 75 years TDCJ
Tyler Tate - 44 years
Kevaughn Mitchell - 44 years
Tony Dunson - 40 years
Diamontae Dunson - Life without parole
Dontriel Perry - Life without parole
Chad Gillen - 70 years
Other Significant Verdicts 2022 - 23:
Matthew Allred - Agg. Sexual Assault of Child - Life
Carlos Cruz Padron - Agg. Sex Assault of Child - Life
Lawrence Davis II - Agg. Sex Assault of Child - 50 years
Richard Phillips - Continuance Sexual Abuse of Child - Life
Anthony Bridgewater - Aggravated Robbery - 40 years
Esteban Gonzalez - Agg. Sexual Assault of Child - 60 years
Deandre DeSuza - Trafficking of Persons - Life
Richard Rodriguez - Agg Assault with a Deadly Weapon - 40 years
Wilbert James Jones, Jr. - Sexual Assault of a Child - 3 Life Sentences
Virgil Bryant III - Felony DWI - 99 years
Significant Verdicts 2024:
Joseph Lavon Green - Continuous Sexual Abuse of Child, sexual assault of a child (3 counts) - 4 consecutive life sentences
ADDITIONAL SUCCESSES
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$110,000 grant awarded for the Veterans Treatment Court.
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Citizen Prosecutor Academy started in the Spring of 2022. Class is offered 2 times per year.
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Creation of Grand Jury Intake Division and Family Justice Division
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Creation of Child Sex Trafficking Protocols adopted in 2022
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Numerous education opportunities offered for law enforcement in the County
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New digital case management filing system to be implemented in the Spring of 2024.