We had 15 lawyers complete 9 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 5 Guilty Verdicts, 2 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In-Trial Dismissal, and 1 In-Trial Plea.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 31 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Spogmay Khaliq for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
DWI
( judge Tonya Jones presiding – CCL15 – jury trial – Cause Number 2595571)
Congratulations to Prosecutor Mona Niazi for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
DWI
Sentence: 6 Days in Jail
(visiting judge Sherman Ross presiding – CCL6 – jury trial – Cause #2326088)
Congratulations to Prosecutor Amanda Benavides for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Murder
Sentence: 50 Years in Prison
(judge Beverly Armstrong presiding – 208th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1867357) co-counsel Tiffany Harrell
Congratulations to Prosecutor Tiffany Harrell for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Murder
Sentence: 50 Years in Prison
(judge Beverly Armstrong presiding – 208th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1867357) co-counsel Amanda Benavides
Congratulations to Prosecutor Lara Hogue for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Murder
Sentence: Life in Prison
(judge Veronica Nelson presiding – 482nd Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1911537) co-counsel Mitchell Williams
Congratulations to Prosecutor Mitchell Williams for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Murder
Sentence: Life in Prison
(judge Veronica Nelson presiding – 482nd Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1911537) co-counsel Lara Hogue
Congratulations to Prosecutor Danielle Oxford for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Trafficking of Person – Continuous
Sentence: 35 Years in Prison
(visiting judge Marc Brown presiding – 488th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1938173) co-counsel Jayelle Lozoya
Congratulations to Prosecutor Jayelle Lozoya for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Trafficking of Person – Continuous
Sentence: 35 Years in Prison
(visiting judge Marc Brown presiding – 488th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1938173) co-counsel Danielle Oxford
Congratulations to Prosecutor Elizabeth Frey for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Violation of a Protective Order
Sentence: 5 Years in Prison
(judge Hilary Unger presiding – 248th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1929424) co-counsel Gillian Hogan
Congratulations to Prosecutor Gillian Hogan for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Violation of a Protective Order
Sentence: 5 Years in Prison
(judge Hilary Unger presiding – 248th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1929424) co-counsel Elizabeth Frey
Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Price Brown for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
DWI
( judge Jessica Padilla presiding – CCL14 – jury trial – Cause Number 2597459)
Congratulations to Prosecutor Steve Walsh for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas.
Murder
Sentence: 45 Years in Prison
(judge Dan Simons presiding – 496th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1874694) co-counsel Panos Melisaris
Congratulations to Prosecutor Panos Melisaris for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas.
Murder
Sentence: 45 Years in Prison
(judge Dan Simons presiding – 496th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1874694) co-counsel Steve Walsh
Congratulations to Defense Attorney John Paul Cedillo for earning an In-Trial Dismissal for your client (after a successful Motion to Suppress Evidence Hearing).
DWI
(judge Sedrick Walker presiding – CCL11 – jury trial – Cause Number 2594770) co-counsel Dulce Toledo
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Dulce Toledo for earning an In-Trial Dismissal for your client (after a successful Motion to Suppress Evidence Hearing).
DWI
(judge Sedrick Walker presiding – CCL11 – jury trial – Cause Number 2594770) co-counsel John Paul Cedillo
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%.
Show Me The Justice congratulates Defense Attorney John Paul Cedillo for earning 8 “Not Guilty” Verdicts since 2017
John Paul is tied for NUMBER 28 on the “Rosster” of TRIAL LAWYERS WITH THE MOST WINS SINCE 2017
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)
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 Russell Neumann for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1879798 out of the 495th Criminal District Court for the offense of
SEXUAL ASSAULT of a Child
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Zohair Alam for earning a non trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1950551 out of the 179th Criminal District Court for the offense of
CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE of a Child
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Alli Cannon for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2588333 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 2 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Alli Cannon for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2591758 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 2 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jeffrey Erskine for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1912361 out of the 180th Criminal District Court for the offense of
THEFT $2500 – $30K
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jason Marquez for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1945510 out of the 182nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Samuel Gardner for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1710839 out of the 248th Criminal District Court for the offense of
THEFT from a Person
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brian LaVine for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1926155 out of the 248th Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT with a Deadly Weapon
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Mario Madrid for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1933074 out of the 486th Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT of a Child
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Neal Davis for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1965126 out of the 338th Criminal District Court for the criminal offense of
AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT of a Child
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Abreante Jones for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2600041 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 3 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brian Ayson for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2594235 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney JoLissa Jones for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2583922 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
DWI 2nd >.15
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Stephen Stewart for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2576332 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of
DWI 2nd
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney David Ryan for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1911308 out of the 209th Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Rick Detoto for earning a non trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1872199 out of the 182nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
SEXUAL ASSAULT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brennen Dunn for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1937294 out of the 263rd Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Ray Hollins for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1782566 out of the 174th Criminal District Court for the offense of
POSSESSION with the Intent to Deliver Drugs
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Abel Izaguirre for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2580722 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 6 for the offense of
INTERFERENCE with Emergency Request for Assistance
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Neil Krugh for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1938281 out of the 185th Criminal District Court for the offense of
THEFT $30K – $150K
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Sean Evans for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2596497 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 10 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Marc Metze for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2569697 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jacob Vela for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2612604 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of
FAILURE TO STOP and Give Information
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Enrique Ramirez for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2618219 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of
DISCHARGING A FIREARM in a Metro Area
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jen Gaut for earning a non trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1802175 out of the 232nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
SEXUAL ASSAULT of a Child
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Bryant Daniels for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1625801 out of the 174th Criminal District Court for the offense of
AUTO THEFT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Tyler White for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1944452 out of the 232nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Aaron White for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2583841 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Marcus Esther for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2596004 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brandy Gum for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2619625 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 12 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Eric Garza for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2599645 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
PROSECUTOR LEADER BOARD 2026
Leading Prosecutors for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts for 2026
DEFENSE LEADER BOARD 2026
Leading Defense Attorneys for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts for 2026
FELONY JUDGE LEADER BOARD 2026
All Elected Felony Judges and their trial totals for 2026
MISDEMEANOR JUDGE LEADER BOARD 2026
All Elected Misdemeanor Judges and their trial totals for 2026
VISITING JUDGE LEADER BOARD 2026
Visiting Judges and their trial totals for 2026
PROSECUTOR LEADER BOARD – Last 9 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 (out of 16 courts) for LOWEST docket totals through May 2026 (non pretrial intervention cases) – source: Harris County Courts Active Cases Report
COURT DOCKET EFFICIENCY – FELONIES
Top 10 Felony Courts (out of 29 courts) for LOWEST docket totals through May 2026 – source: Harris County District Criminal District Courts Dashboard
JURY TRIAL SENTENCES for MURDER CHARGES IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
Note: The following murder sentencing statistics were derived from my “ALL LAWYERS VERDICTS SINCE 2017” spreadsheet which included ALL the murder trials since 2017. I looked up each case number on the District Clerk’s website and entered the sentence onto the below downloadable spreadsheet. I gave a score of 100 years for a life sentence and 0 for probation. Statistics good from February 1, 2017 through June 14, 2026.
JURY TRIAL SENTENCES for CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD CHARGES IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
Note: The following continuous sexual abuse of a child sentencing statistics were derived from my “ALL LAWYERS VERDICTS SINCE 2017” spreadsheet which included ALL the continuous sexual abuse of a child trials since 2017. I looked up each case number on the District Clerk’s website and entered the sentence onto the below spreadsheet. I gave a score of 100 years for a life sentence and 0 for probation. Statistics good from February 1, 2017 through June 14, 2026.
JURY TRIAL SENTENCES for ALL OTHER CHILD SEX CASES IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
Note: The following child sex case sentencing statistics were derived from my “ALL LAWYERS VERDICTS SINCE 2017” spreadsheet which included ALL the child sex case trials since 2017. I looked up each case number on the District Clerk’s website and entered the sentence onto the below spreadsheet. I gave a score of 100 years for a life sentence and 0 for probation. Statistics good from February 1, 2017 through June 14, 2026.
JURY TRIAL VERDICTS FOR ASSORTED CASES IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
Note: The following jury trial verdicts were derived from my “ALL LAWYERS VERDICTS SINCE 2017” spreadsheet which included ALL the trials since 2017. Statistics good from February 1, 2017 through June 14, 2026.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE RETAINED BUSINESS AT THE HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE?
WHO ARE THE JUDICIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY JUDGE POSITIONS FOR 2026? Check out the list below!
Information found on the Harris County Democratic and Republican parties websites
FOR EXCITING LIVE VIDEOS OF HOUSTON CRIME IN PROGRESS VISIT GRIZZY’S HOOD NEWS AT GRIZZYSHOODNEWS.COM
HARRIS COUNTY FELONY COURTS DASHBOARD
HARRIS COUNTY MISDEMEANOR COURTS DASHBOARD
DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE DASHBOARD
HARRIS COUNTY COURTS FACEBOOK PAGE
HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FACEBOOK PAGE
THEFT BY CHECK AND ISSUANCE OF A BAD CHECK TRIAL MANUAL
Great tips from the Harris County Court Reporters – click here!
I interviewed 12 experienced court reporters working the Harris County Criminal Courts and got their “inside information” on how jurors, lawyers and witnesses could improve in trial to make it easier for the court reporter to take down ALL the information required of them for a good record. THESE ARE SOME GREAT TIPS! (Interviews took place in 2019)
