The “Rosster” of Criminal Courtroom Winners – Week Ending May 15, 2026


We had 31 lawyers complete 17 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 10 Guilty Verdicts, 5 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In-Trial Dismissal, 2 In-Trial Pleas and 0 Hung Jury/Mistrial/Other.

Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 23 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!


Kimberly Smith

Congratulations to Prosecutor Kimberly Smith for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Colleen Gaido presiding – 337th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1859006) co-counsel Hector Garza


Hector Garza

Congratulations to Prosecutor Hector Garza for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Colleen Gaido presiding – 337th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1859006) co-counsel Kimberly Smith


Neha Mehtaji

Congratulations to Prosecutor Neha Mehtaji for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Andy Beall presiding – 185th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1909675) co-counsel Alycia Harvey

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Alycia Harvey

Congratulations to Prosecutor Alycia Harvey for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Andy Beall presiding – 185th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1909675) co-counsel Neha Mehtaji

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Paul Morgan

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Paul Morgan for earning Not Guilty Verdicts for your client.

(judge Beverly Armstrong presiding – 208th Criminal District Court –  jury trial – Cause Numbers 1924386 – 1924387) co-counsel Mike Haddad


Mike Haddad

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Mike Haddad for earning Not Guilty Verdicts for your client.

(judge Beverly Armstrong presiding – 208th Criminal District Court –  jury trial – Cause Numbers 1924386 – 1924387) co-counsel Paul Morgan


Brett Batchelor

Congratulations to Prosecutor Brett Batchelor for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Vanessa Velasquez presiding – 176th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1958208) co-counsel Helen Le

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Helen Le

Congratulations to Prosecutor Helen Le for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Vanessa Velasquez presiding – 176th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1958208) co-counsel Brett Batchelor

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Tieranee Jones

Congratulations to Prosecutor Tieranee Jones for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Chris Morton presiding – 230th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1886463) co-counsel Maria Juarez


Maria Juarez

Congratulations to Prosecutor Maria Juarez for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Chris Morton presiding – 230th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1886463) co-counsel Tieranee Jones


Val Zuniga

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Val Zuniga for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Lance Long presiding – 183rd Criminal District Court –  jury trial – Cause Number 1894015) co-counsels Andrew Taylor and Hunter Hoaglund

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Andrew Taylor

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Andrew Taylor for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Lance Long presiding – 183rd Criminal District Court –  jury trial – Cause Number 1894015) co-counsels Val Zuniga and Hunter Hoaglund

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Hunter Hoaglund

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Hunter Hoaglund for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Lance Long presiding – 183rd Criminal District Court –  jury trial – Cause Number 1894015) co-counsels Andrew Taylor and Val Zuniga

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Bryan Honeycutt

Congratulations to Prosecutor Bryan Honeycutt for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Denise Bradley presiding – 497th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1843896) co-counsel Nidia Ventura

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Nidia Ventura

Congratulations to Prosecutor Nidia Ventura for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Denise Bradley presiding – 497th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1843896) co-counsel Bryan Honeycutt

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Alyssa Craze-Awbrey

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Alyssa Craze-Awbrey for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Paula Goodhart presiding – CCL2 case –  jury trial – Cause Number 2599548) co-counsel Tiffany Valdez


Tiffany Valdez

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Tiffany Valdez for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Paula Goodhart presiding – CCL2 case –  jury trial – Cause Number 2599548) co-counsel Alyssa Craze-Awbrey


Connor Porter

Congratulations to Prosecutor Connor Porter for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Sedrick Walker presiding – CCL11 – jury trialCause #2579695)


Bethany Belisle

Congratulations to Prosecutor Bethany Belisle for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Caroline Dozier presiding – 228th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1831849) co-counsel Jacob Salinas


Jacob Salinas

Congratulations to Prosecutor Jacob Salinas for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Caroline Dozier presiding – 228th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1831849) co-counsel Bethany Belisle


Arienna Toh

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Arienna Toh for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Veronica Nelson presiding – 482nd/263rd Criminal District Court –  jury trial – Cause Number 1938742) co-counsel Zakiya Carter


Zakiya Carter

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Zakiya Carter for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Veronica Nelson presiding – 482nd/263rd Criminal District Court –  jury trial – Cause Number 1938742) co-counsel Arienna Toh


Angela Johnson Weltin

Congratulations to Prosecutor Angela Weltin for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Hazel Jones presiding – 174th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1830460) co-counsel Jayelle Lozoya

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Jayelle Lozoya

Congratulations to Prosecutor Jayelle Lozoya for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Hazel Jones presiding – 174th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1830460) co-counsel Angela Weltin

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Panos Melisaris

Congratulations to Prosecutor Panos Melisaris for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Dan Simons presiding – 497th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1939374)


Alex Yarrow

Congratulations to Prosecutor Alex Yarrow for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Juanita Jackson presiding – CCL10 – jury trialCause #2571983)


Katie Day

Congratulations to Prosecutor Katie Day for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas.

Sentence: 30 Days in Jail

(judge Tonya Jones presiding – CCL15 – jury trial – Cause Number 2580298) co-counsel Farwah Naqvi


Farwah Naqvi

Congratulations to Prosecutor Farwah Naqvi for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas.

Sentence: 30 Days in Jail

(judge Tonya Jones presiding – CCL15 – jury trial – Cause Number 2580298) co-counsel Katie Day


Gordon McCormack

Congratulations to Prosecutor Gordon McCormack for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas.

Sentence: 8 Years in Prison

(judge Stacy Allen Barrow presiding – 487th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1927341)


Brian Ayson

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Brian Ayson for earning an In-Trial Dismissal for your client (After a successful Motion to Suppress Hearing).

(judge Leslie Johnson presiding – CCL3 –  jury trial – Cause Number 2580807) co-counsel Mitchell Leonard


Mitchell Leonard

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Mitchell Leonard for earning an In-Trial Dismissal for your client (After a successful Motion to Suppress Hearing).

(judge Leslie Johnson presiding – CCL3 –  jury trial – Cause Number 2580807) co-counsel Brian Ayson


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%.


Cheryl Brown

Leading Defense Attorneys for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts since February 2017OVER 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.


Gold Star Dismissal
Monique Sparks

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Monique Sparks for earning a non trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1919021 out of the 488th Criminal District Court for the offense of

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Gold Star Dismissal
Bassey Akpaffiong

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Bassey Okpaffiong for earning a non trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1884740 out of the 338th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Lynda Jetton

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Lynda Jetton for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1922499 out of the 176th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Steven Goins

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Steven Goins for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2586646 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of


Sean Evans

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Sean Evans for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2595707 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of


Gold Star Dismissal
Vik Vij

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Vik Vij for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1915196 out of the 183rd Criminal District Court for the criminal offense of


Michael Mueller

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Michael Mueller for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2571392 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of


Shane Sanders

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Shane Sanders for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2577886 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of


Coby Dubose

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Coby Dubose for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2493247 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of


Emily Shelton

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Emily Shelton for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1758851 out of the 182nd Criminal District Court for the criminal offense of


Lynda Jetton

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Lynda Jetton for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1922499 out of the 176th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Alan Garcia

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Alan Garcia for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2590962 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 10 for the offense of


Arielle Strong

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Arielle Strong for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2590268 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 5 for the offense of


Marcos Adrogue

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Marcos Adrogue for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2593895 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of


Bryan Garris

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Bryan Garris for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2558547 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of


Cedric Davis

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Cedric Davis for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2598511 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of


Ana Funes Baker

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Ana Funes Baker for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1913093 out of the 209th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Julio Vela

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Julio Vela for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1933272 out of the 184th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Crystal Beverly Harrell

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Crystal Harrell for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1926714 out of the 176th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Brennen Dunn

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brennen Dunn for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1912612 out of the 208th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Tanya Broholm

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Tanya Broholm for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1945160 out of the 184th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Chantrisse Howard

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Chantrisse Howard for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2592948 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 2 for the offense of


Val Zuniga

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Val Zuniga for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1937248 out of the 176th Criminal District Court for the offense of










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

Check your voting status HERE


Congratulations to County Criminal Court at Law Number 8 judge Erika Ramirez (l-r) and to the 185th Criminal District Court judge Andy Beall for scoring the HIGHEST average “EXCELLENT” ratings in 8 different categories in the annual poll conducted by the Houston Bar Association.

HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION JUDICIAL EVALUATION RESULTS – 2025


Below is the list of the TOP 10 misdemeanor and felony judges in order of “top average” “excellent” scores over 8 different categories.



Grizzy's Hood News

FOR EXCITING LIVE VIDEOS OF HOUSTON CRIME IN PROGRESS VISIT GRIZZY’S HOOD NEWS AT GRIZZYSHOODNEWS.COM

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! 

Katelyn Harrelson

Katelyn Harrelson has been a court reporter since 2013. She substituted as a court reporter in all the courts until 2015 when she landed a permanent job in County Criminal Court at Law Number 6 with judge Larry Standley. She is now the court reporter in County Criminal Court at Law Number 6 – judge Kelley Andrews presiding.

Linda Hacker has been a court reporter since 1990. She worked freelance until 1994 then from 1994 to 2000 she worked as a substitute for the courts. In 2000 she landed a job as court reporter for the 339th then in 2009 as a court reporter for the 177th. She is currently one of several court reporters who work in the Emergency Trial Dockets.

Rachel Peres has been a court reporter since 2013. She spent 5 years as the court reporter for the 313th juvenile court before becoming the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 4 – judge Shannon Baldwin presiding.

Karen Hendricks Garcia has been a court reporter since 2011. She spent 4 years doing freelance then became the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for 4 years. Since January 2019 she has been the court reporter for the 228th Criminal District Court – judge Caroline Dozier now presiding.

Amanda Fazio has been a court reporter since 2008. She has spent her entire career assigned to the Harris County criminal courts. She has worked in five criminal courts during those 17 years and is currently the court reporter in the 209th District Court – judge Brian Warren presiding.

Ramona Sonnier has been a court reporter since 1999. She worked freelance for 4 years in all types of Harris County courts – including criminal, civil, juvenile, and family. In 2003 she got a permanent position with County Criminal Court at Law Number 5 under judge Margaret Harris and is now in the same court with judge David Fleischer presiding.

Tiffani June- Russell has been a court reporter since 1998.  She worked freelance for 15 of those 27 years while raising 3 children.  She is now the full-time court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 7 – Judge Andrew Wright presiding.

Leah Leal has been a court reporter since 2014.  She has worked her entire career in the criminal court system starting with County Criminal Court at Law Number 10 – Judge Dan Spjut – and more recently as the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 13 –  judge Raul Rodriguez presiding.

Krista Hall has been a court reporter since 1995.  She worked free-lance for about 12 years then worked the civil courts, CPS  and misdemeanor courts.  She was with Judge Derbyshire until she landed her spot with Judge Sedrick Walker – County Criminal Court at Law Number 11. 

Jennifer Slessinger has been a court reporter since 1975.  She worked in the criminal courts for 37 years and the family courts for 7 years.  She was the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 8 – judge Franklin Bynum – before retiring in 2022.

Shannon Simmons has been a court reporter since 1997.  She was a freelance reporter for twenty-one years, did a year in juvenile court then worked as a court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 10.  Now she is with the 496th Criminal District Court, judge Dan Simons presiding.

Carrie Logan

Carrie Logan has been a court reporter for over 30 years – almost entirely in felony criminal courts.  She worked for judge George Godwin in the 174th for eight years and with judge Susan Brown in the 185th for 20 years.  She is now the court reporter for the 185th – judge Andy Beall presiding.

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