Category Archives: Crime and Punishment

Sen. Uresti convicted on fraud charges

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Time to resign. The courtroom was silent and thick with anxiety Thursday morning as the judge’s deputy read the verdicts: “Guilty,” “guilty,” “guilty” — 11 times over, and on all felony counts. State Sen. Carlos Uresti sat stone-faced, his gaze … Continue reading →

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Investigating the Karolyis

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m fine with this, but I feel like we’re overlooking something. Nearly a week after prominent USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to prison for the sexual assault of several female gymnasts, Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the Texas … Continue reading →

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The next frontier in criminal justice reform

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We need to lock up fewer kids for bad reasons. Hundreds of juveniles are jailed in Harris County often for weeks at a time for infractions as minor as failing drugs tests, violating curfews, running away or failing to attend … Continue reading →

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Looking to hire more cops for Houston

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see about this. The head of the Houston police union announced Wednesday that city leaders had pledged to grow the Houston Police Department ranks by 500 officers over the next five years, far fewer than the city’s police chief … Continue reading →

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Chris Oliver gets sentenced

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Goodbye. A former Houston Community College trustee was sentenced to nearly six years in prison on Monday after a judge said he accepted more than a quarter million dollars in bribes in exchange for his influence over contract work with … Continue reading →

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No Paxton trial till prosecutor pay case resolved

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not on the court calendar at this time. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s fraud trials have been put on hold as the lawyers pursuing the criminal charges against him fight for years of back pay. Judge Robert Johnson has taken … Continue reading →

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Kim Ogg’s first year as DA

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I certainly approve of the job DA Kim Ogg has done so far. The accomplishment Kim Ogg is most proud of after her first year as Harris County District Attorney was not implementing a new drug policy, energizing the division … Continue reading →

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CCA to review Paxton prosecutors pay case

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The state’s highest criminal court agreed Wednesday to take a closer look at prosecutors’ long-running fight to get paid for their handling of the securities fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The move by the state’s Court … Continue reading →

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It’s about the domestic violence

Posted on November 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

You want to do something to reduce gun violence, here’s the place to start. Domestic violence cases have risen sharply across the state, with more than 210,000 wives, girlfriends, husbands and others suffering death or injury at the hands of … Continue reading →

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About that lost evidence

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry about that. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has sent notices to lawyers in 10,000 closed criminal cases that evidence, which was kept in storage, may have been lost or destroyed between 2007 and 2016. The bulk of the … Continue reading →

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Background checks

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This should make you angry. A mistake by U.S. Air Force officials in reporting Devin Patrick Kelley’s past conviction for domestic violence allowed him to buy four guns, including the semi-automatic rifle used in the Sunday shooting at a South … Continue reading →

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Sutherland Springs

Posted on November 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t even know what to say. I worry more about some random asshole with a gun more than I do about anything else that could harm me or my family. I’ll say it again, because I keep having to … Continue reading →

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More pre-trial diversion

Posted on October 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

DA Kim Ogg moves forward on more campaign promises. During a press conference Tuesday, Ogg laid out in broad strokes the policy recommendations written by the committees and emphasized that she is seeking participation from experts and Houston’s leaders. “We … Continue reading →

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DA’s office ends trace case prosecutions

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg has stopped prosecuting thousands of so-called trace drug cases, which typically stem from glass pipes seized from users containing little more than residue of crack cocaine, officials said Thursday. The recent change means … Continue reading →

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The Observer talks to Kim Ogg

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A good read: You decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Jeff Sessions has signaled that he seeks to ramp up the war on drugs. What power does the federal government hold over your policy decisions? I enjoy total … Continue reading →

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New county risk assessment system coming

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve been waiting. Harris County officials on Tuesday touted their revamped strategy for deciding whether tens-of-thousands of individuals should be jailed before their criminal trials, a process that critics and a federal judge say disproportionately affects the poor who are … Continue reading →

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Still a few bugs in the system

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A continuing story. While Harris County officials are complaining that a federal judge’s bail order threatens public safety, the county has failed to provide more than 100 low-level defendants with pretrial services aimed at ensuring they make their court dates. … Continue reading →

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Dukes pleads not guilty

Posted on July 2, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

To all counts. State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, entered not guilty pleas to abuse-of-office charges Friday in Travis County district court. The 12-term lawmaker pleaded not guilty to tampering with a governmental record and abuse of official capacity by a … Continue reading →

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Former Stockman aide returns to US

Posted on June 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The gang’s all here. Federal agents quietly arrested Jason Posey, a former congressional aide who’d been wanted for two months on charges that he helped ex-U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman carry out a criminal conspiracy to bilk millionaire donors, violate elections … Continue reading →

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There is always some risk

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I get the concern, but the alternative was unacceptable and now is illegal. Get used to it. More than 600 people charged with misdemeanors have been released since June 7 when the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an emergency motion by … Continue reading →

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Ogg joins with other DAs in criticizing new Justice Department sentencing guidelines

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

As well she should. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Friday joined 30 other sitting and former district attorneys in a letter protesting U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recent push for harsher sentences in America’s federal courts. “This is … Continue reading →

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Special prosecutors named in Temple case

Posted on May 21, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how they proceed. The Texas Attorney General’s Office has been tapped to prosecute the murder case against former Alief Coach David Temple in the 1999 death of his pregnant wife. State District Judge Kelli Johnson appointed Lisa Tanner … Continue reading →

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Paxton tries again – and fails – to get a new judge

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Never give up, never surrender, I guess. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s criminal defense lawyers filed a motion Wednesday arguing the judge assigned to oversee his securities fraud trial is ineligible to oversee the case because his appointment was temporary. Legal … Continue reading →

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Special prosecutor to be appointed in David Temple case

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like the right call. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg is asking for a special prosecutor to handle the murder case against former Alief Coach David Temple, adding new scrutiny to a decades-old case that continues to stir controversy. … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial delayed

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman’s trial on federal corruption charges has been pushed back to next year. The trial, originally scheduled to begin June 5, will now kick off on Jan. 29, 2018, according to an order issued Wednesday … Continue reading →

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Paxton still pushing for a new judge

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Still, he persisted, I guess. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawyers are not giving up in their bid to get a new judge in his securities fraud case. Earlier this month, Judge George Gallagher ordered Paxton’s trial be moved to … Continue reading →

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No new judge for Paxton

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Denied! State District Judge George Gallagher will remain on the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a spokeswoman for the judge. It was originally believed Gallagher would have to rule on a request Paxton’s lawyers made … Continue reading →

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Paxton wants a new judge

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

He may not get his wish. The judge presiding over Attorney General Ken Paxton’s criminal trial plans to remain on the case, regardless of Paxton’s request for a new judge, his spokesman said. “He anticipates remaining the judge,” District Judge … Continue reading →

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Paxton’s trial date set for September 12

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s newly relocated criminal trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 12. The judge in the case set the trial date Wednesday, a day after moving the proceedings to Harris County. The trial had originally … Continue reading →

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Settle the damn bail lawsuit already

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Enough. Harris County commissioners Tuesday voted to add high-profile, conservative litigator Charles Cooper to a growing team of attorneys defending the county and several public officials against a civil rights lawsuit alleging the county’s bail system unconstitutionally jails the poor. … Continue reading →

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Paxton trial moved to Harris County

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The circus is coming to town, with none of those morally questionable animal acts to get all angsty about. Attorney General Ken Paxton will face a jury in Harris County on felony criminal charges he committed securities fraud and failed … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial date set

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendar. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman is set to go to trial June 5 on federal corruption charges. Stockman, a Houston-area Republican, has pleaded not guilty to charges of funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable donations … Continue reading →

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Stockman pleads not guilty

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

And we’re off. Standing tall, with his hands hanging loosely at his sides, former U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman told a federal magistrate in Houston Monday he understood the criminal charges against him and pleaded not guilty to theft of about … Continue reading →

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Steve Stockman claims he’s broke

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Pobrecito. Former Congressman Steve Stockman told a federal magistrate Wednesday he can’t afford to pay for a lawyer to represent him against allegations he helped steal about $800,000 in charitable donations intended for conservative organizations. U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson … Continue reading →

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