We had 23 lawyers complete 12 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 5 Guilty Verdicts, 2 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In Trial Plea, 1 In-Trial Dismissal and 3 Hung Juries.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 33 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
November 21, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Mitchell Sanchez for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1939981 out of the 184th Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD – Sentence: Life in Prison
(Presiding judge – Kat Thomas – jury trial) co-counsel Jennifer Hill
November 21, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Jennifer Hill for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1939981 out of the 184th Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD – Sentence: Life in Prison
(Presiding judge – Kat Thomas – jury trial) co-counsel Mitchell Sanchez
November 21, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Baltazar Salazar for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 1852898 out of the 497th Criminal District Court for the offense of
POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
(Presiding judge – Peyton Peebles – jury trial)
November 20, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Katie Jenson for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 2552048 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 7 for the offense of
DWI 2nd – Sentence: 14 Days in Jail and 2 Years Probation
(Presiding judge – Andrew Wright – jury trial) co-counsel Emma Bonnet
November 20, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Emma Bonnet for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 2552048 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 7 for the offense of
DWI 2nd – Sentence: 14 Days in Jail and 2 Years Probation
(Presiding judge – Andrew Wright – jury trial) co-counsel Katie Jenson
November 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Simone Colson for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1770177 out of the 262nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER – Sentence: Life in Prison
(Presiding judge – Lori Chambers Gray – jury trial) co-counsel R.J. Martinez
November 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor R.J. Martinez for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1770177 out of the 262nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER – Sentence: Life in Prison
(Presiding judge – Lori Chambers Gray – jury trial) co-counsel Simone Colson
November 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Panos Melisaris for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1880962 out of the 496th Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT FAMILY MEMBER – Sentence: 10 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Dan Simons – jury trial) co-counsel Madison Flores
November 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Madison Flores for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1880962 out of the 496th Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT FAMILY MEMBER – Sentence: 10 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Dan Simons – jury trial) co-counsel Panos Melisaris
November 19, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Antonio Benavides for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 2529211 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
VIOLATION OF A PROTECTIVE ORDER
(Presiding judge – Erika Ramirez – jury trial)
November 19, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Robert Stone Curl for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 2552705 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
DWI – Sentence: 3 Days in Jail
(Presiding judge – Tonya Jones – jury trial)
November 19, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor John Hyde for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas in Cause Number 2562224 out of County Criminal Court at Law Number 7 for the offense of
INDECENT ASSAULT – Sentence: 1 Year Deferred Probation
(Presiding judge – Andrew Wright – jury trial ) co-counsel Jaime Pena
November 19, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Jaime Pena for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas in Cause Number 2562224 out of County Criminal Court at Law Number 7 for the offense of
INDECENT ASSAULT – Sentence: 1 Year Deferred Probation
(Presiding judge – Andrew Wright – jury trial ) co-counsel John Hyde
November 19, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Clayten Hearrell for earning an In Trial Dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2551054 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 5 for the offense of
ASSAULT
(Presiding judge – David Fleischer – jury trial)
November 14, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Show Me The Justice acknowledges the hard work and dedication from Prosecutors (l-r) Steven Harris and Katrina Figueroa and Defense Attorneys Brennen Dunn and Lara Autrey in Cause Number 1663871 out of the 338th Criminal District Court which resulted in a Hung Jury for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT FAMILY MEMBER
(presiding judge Michele Oncken – jury trial)
November 20, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Show Me The Justice acknowledges the hard work and dedication from Prosecutors (l-r) Katie Rogers and Casey Smith and Defense Attorneys Julio Vela and Jacob Vela in Cause Number 1791624 out of the 263rd Criminal District Court which resulted in a Hung Jury (11-1 for guilty) for the offense of
CAPITAL MURDER
(presiding judge Melissa Morris – jury trial)
November 21, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Show Me The Justice acknowledges the hard work and dedication from Prosecutor Kelly Ibekwe and Defense Attorney Jane Clements (not pictured) in Cause Number 1878688 out of the 487th Criminal District Court which resulted in a Hung Jury for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON
(presiding judge Stacy Allen Barrow
Note: This scoreboard may not be 100% accurate as I could have missed some mistrials that occurred at the early stages of the trial or a quick court trial that lasted a couple of hours….. but it is close to 100%.
DEFENSE LEADER BOARD – LAST 9 YEARS
Leading Defense Attorneys for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts since February 2017 – OVER 2,000 PRACTICING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse (stats taken from above spreadsheet) Random acknowledgement of a leading defense attorney
#21 on LEADER BOARD
OVER 2,000 PRACTICING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IN HOUSTON
Show Me The Justice congratulates Defense Attorney Jackie Carpenter for earning 9 “Not Guilty” Verdicts since 2017 – Jackie is NUMBER 21 on the “Rosster” of TRIAL LAWYERS WITH THE MOST WINS SINCE 2017
Note: The following spreadsheets, standings, charts, graphs and compilations may NOT be 100% accurate and should not be relied upon as authoritative information.
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Kate Welch for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1702852 out of the 232nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT with a Deadly Weapon
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jacob Vela for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2552678 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
DWI >.15
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Reshae Ridley for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2579167 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 14 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Treshaun Meredith for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2326721 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
FAILURE TO STOP and Give Information
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jill Hawkins for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2551810 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 10 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Antonio Benavides for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2548323 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 10 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Allison Mathis for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1908234 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of
CONTINUOUS VIOLENCE Against the Family
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jonathan White for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1897350 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of
THEFT from a Person
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Alyssa Craze Awbrey for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2566721 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Chad Dick for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2560689 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
ASSAULT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Savannah Luna for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2324532 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney John Paul Cedillo for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2530009 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Darla McBride for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2559373 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
DWI >.15
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Chisom Onyenezi for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2571805 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
DWI 2nd
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Allen Woodward for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2506885 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Alyssa Craze Awbrey for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2565849 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Luis Baez for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1907341 out of the 182nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
ENDANGERING A CHILD
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Tyler Flood for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2553742 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 5 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Michael Mercer for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2552920 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 5 for the offense of
TERRORISTIC THREAT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Doug Murphy for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2547396 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
INDECENT ASSAULT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Savannah Luna for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2520721 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 13 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Katie Wilson for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2567637 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 3 for the offense of
ASSAULT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Antonio Benavides for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2528880 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
HARASSMENT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Johari Burnette for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2507692 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 16 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jill Hawkins for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2556558 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Marco Sapien for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2567155 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Baldomero Garza for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2562922 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
UNLAWFULLY CARRYING a Weapon
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Rahan Atia for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2559431 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Tristan LeGrande for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1873486 out of the 174th Criminal District Court for the offense of
BURGLARY of a Habitation
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Mekisha Walker for earning a NO BILL (after submitting a Grand Jury Packet) for your client in Cause Number 1926503 out of the 262nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
RACING ON HIGHWAY – Bodily Injury
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Will Vaughn for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1914303 out of the 183rd Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT of Hospital Personnel
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Enrique Ramirez for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2535866 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 12 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jorge Garcia for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1928368 out of the 182nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY LEADERBOARD 2025
Leading Prosecutors for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts for 2025
DEFENSE ATTORNEY LEADERBOARD 2025
Leading Defense Attorneys for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts for 2025
FELONY JUDGES LEADERBOARD 2025
All Elected Felony Judges and their trial totals for 2025
MISDEMEANOR JUDGES LEADERBOARD 2025
All Elected Misdemeanor Judges and their trial totals for 2025
VISITING JUDGE LEADERBOARD 2025
Visiting Judges and their trial totals for 2025
PROSECUTOR LEADERBOARD – LAST 8 YEARS
Leading Prosecutors for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts since February 2017 Note: Prosecutors listed may no longer be working at the District Attorney’s Office
COURT DOCKET EFFICIENCY – MISDEMEANORS
Top 10 Misdemeanor Courts for LOWEST docket totals October 2025 – source: Harris County Courts Active Cases Report
COURT DOCKET EFFICIENCY – FELONIES
Top 10 Felony Courts for LOWEST docket totals October 2025 – source: Harris County District Criminal District Courts Dashboard
“POLICE OFFICER HAROLD PRESTON KILLED RESPONDING TO A DISTURBANCE” next court date December 15, 2025 – 351st – 1694813 – Defendant Elmer Rolando Manzano – Defense Attorneys Allen Tanner, Rudy Duarte and Mario Madrid – NBC NEWS
“DING-DONG-DITCH” MURDER OF 11-YEAR OLD BOY – next court date: January 8, 2026 – 177th – 1931105 – Defendant Gonzalo Leon Jr. – Defense Attorneys Julio Vela and Gianpaolo Macerola – HPD NEWS RELEASE
“TURKEY LEG HUT OWNER – CHARGED WITH HINDERING APPREHENSION of a FELON” – next court date: January 8, 2026 – 248th – 1937031 – Defendant Nakia Holmes – Defense Attorney is Public Defender Patrick Ngwolo – FOX26NEWS
“UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH MURDER OF JOCELYN NUNGARAY” – next court date January 13, 2026 – 232nd – 1873327 – Defendant Franklin Pena – Defense Attorneys Natalie Schultz, Danny Werlinger, Lisa Andrews, Ana Funes Baker and Cary Higginbotham – CNN NEWS
“FIRST PERSON IN HARRIS COUNTY TO BE CHARGED UNDER NEW STATE LAW ON TERRORISM” next court date January 18/19, 2026 JURY TRIAL – 488th – 1907121 – Defendant Laith Adil Shehzad – Defense Attorney Jon Stephenson – FOX26NEWS
“UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH MURDER OF JOCELYN NUNGARAY” – next court date January 21, 2026 – 232nd – 1873328 – Defendant Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel – Defense Attorneys Mandy Goldman, John Keirnan, Danny Werlinger, Spence Graham and Mario Madrid – CNN NEWS
November 19, 2025 – My long-time colleague and Harris County Criminal Defense Attorney Ann Johnson (Texas State Representative District 134) appearing on CNN news discussing the 3-judge panel in Texas striking down the newly created 5 Republican-leaning districts as unconstitutional based on race. You spoke well, my friend!
FOR EXCITING LIVE VIDEOS OF HOUSTON CRIME IN PROGRESS VISIT GRIZZY’S HOOD NEWS AT GRIZZYSHOODNEWS.COM
HARRIS COUNTY COURT REPORTERS AND THEIR TRIAL TIPS
Great tips from the Harris County Court Reporters!
I interviewed 12 of some of the best court reporters working the Harris County Criminal Courts and got their “inside information” on how jurors, lawyers, witnesses and judges can improve in trial to make it easier for the court reporter to take down ALL the information required of them for an excellent record.
HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S FACEBOOK PAGE
CLICK HERE for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Facebook Page
DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE DASHBOARD
Click here for some interesting Harris County Courthouse Statistics
HARRIS COUNTY COURTS FACEBOOK PAGE
HARRIS COUNTY FELONY DASHBOARD
HARRIS COUNTY MISDEMEANOR COURTS DASHBOARD
THEFT BY CHECK AND ISSUANCE OF A BAD CHECK TRIAL MANUAL
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