One Court Decision Changed Everything | Judge West Courtroom Chaos Goes Viral

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:06]Good morning. Are you Kenneth Bartel?

[00:00:07]>> Yes, ma'am. And Mr. Parker, will your client waive formal reading of the indictment in each case?

[00:00:12]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:00:22]Um I am going to first also um I think we've probably done it, but just to make it clear, I'll take judicial notice of the court's file uh in each of the cases. Mr. Bartel was evaluated by Dr. Quan for competency to stand trial, and uh we received an um evaluation and report back November 3rd of 2025. The finding in that is that Mr. Bartel was competent to stand trial. Is there any other evidence with regard to competency today? No, ma'am.

[00:00:52]No, your honor. All right. Then based on that, I will find that Mr. Bartel is competent to stand trial and proceed.

[00:01:01]Then Mr. Bartel, in cause number 25, DCCR 1207, you're charged with a third-degree felony offense of obstruction or retaliation from July 19th of 2025. And how do you plead to that charge?

[00:01:18]>> Guilty. Are you pleading guilty freely and voluntarily?

[00:01:21]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:01:22]And are you pleading guilty because you actually did what they charged you did?

[00:01:25]Yes, ma'am.

[00:01:34]And then in cause number 25, DCCR It's that's a state jail we're going on um That one only in the state jail case.

[00:01:49]Um so is that 1752?

[00:01:52]Yes, your honor.

[00:01:53]Give me just a minute.

[00:01:56]And uh 25 DCCR 1752, the state has elected to proceed on count one only. It alleges you committed the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance from January 11th of 2025. And how do you plead to that charge? Guilty.

[00:02:13]Again, are you pleading guilty freely and voluntarily? Yes, ma'am. And because you actually did what they charged you with?

[00:02:19]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:02:30]This courtroom started like any normal hearing until the judge uncovered years of lies, suspended licenses, and a defendant who kept driving anyway. From viral Zoom courtroom embarrassment to shocking criminal admissions, every second got more intense. And when the judge finally spoke, the entire courtroom went silent.

[00:02:49]And then lastly, we have cause number 25 DCCR 0878.

[00:03:02]And in that case, Okay. Uh these cases will run concurrently, which means together at the same time. I will sign dismissals as part of this agreement in cause numbers 25 DCCR 1206 and 25 DCCR 1208.

[00:03:23]I'm handing you in each of your cases the trial court certifications that shows that these were agreements that I followed and so you've waived your right to appeal. I also handed you a written admonishment regarding your ineligibility to possess a firearm or ammunition. Because of the judgments entered against you, you're ineligible under Texas law to possess a firearm or ammunition. Possession of a firearm or ammunition could lead to charges against you. If you If you any questions about the laws that make you ineligible to possess a firearm or ammunition or about how long that lasts, you can talk with Mr. Parker. All right. Good luck to you, sir. You can go back with the bailiff.

[00:04:04]All right. All right, Mr. Freeman. In cause number 24 DC Let me see. Let me get to it.

[00:04:17]24 DCCR 0348, you're charged with a first-degree felony offensive murder. Uh that's from March 27th of 2022. And what that means, sir, is that if you go to trial and you're found guilty, the range of punishment would be between 5 years and up to 99 years or life in prison. Do you understand? Yes, ma'am.

[00:04:38]And then in cause number 213872A you're charged with deadly conduct, discharging a firearm at individuals from October 22nd of 2021.

[00:05:00]And that's a third-degree felony, which means the punishment range if you're found guilty is between 2 years and up to 10 years in prison. Do you understand? Yes, ma'am. I have plea bargain rejections in each of those cases that shows that the district attorney's office has made offers if you wanted to enter pleas of guilty.

[00:05:16]Uh in the murder case to for a 60-year sentence that would run concurrently with the aggravated robbery sentence that you've already received. You have every right to reject that, go to trial, have a jury determine if you're guilty or not, and what your punishment is. I just want to make sure you understand what the possible consequences are if you go to trial, and what your options are. And do you understand all of that?

[00:05:38]Yes, ma'am. Do you want to reject that offer and have your case set for trial?

[00:05:43]Yes, ma'am.

[00:05:44]Judge, I would ask to to admonish him about consecutive sentences. So, is because of that prior conviction I guess I have a the legal question of they can be run consecutive even though weren't they out of the same No, ma'am.

[00:06:00]They were not. They were different offenses and that was a previous offense. The date on the aggravated robbery was prior to the murder.

[00:06:09]See, I got to go back to my original judge.

[00:06:11]Yeah, >> I guess the convictions prior.

[00:06:16]But does it require the offense >> Not for consecutive. I mean, just different offense dates doesn't matter.

[00:06:20]I don't know. Is that your understanding as well?

[00:06:22]>> that was not a Yeah, it's So, I do want to make sure you understand That's right. Okay.

[00:06:27]That because the aggravated robbery and the murder were different criminal episodes, different dates, different allegations, that if you're found guilty in the murder case by a jury, and you're sentenced to some number of years, the state can then and will, I'm sure, ask that I run any sentence that you receive consecutively, which means stacked on top of each other instead of concurrently like they're offering now.

[00:06:52]It would be up to me after I hear all of the evidence.

[00:06:56]I want to make sure you understand that that is also a consequence that you could be facing if you're found guilty by a jury. And do you understand that as well? Yes, ma'am. And you still want to reject any offer and go forward with trial. Yes, ma'am. All right. Then we'll get your case set and I guess the deadly conduct will just It was what was part of that? I don't see a rejection. Was it just either to run concurrent or to be dismissed?

[00:07:20]>> It would be run concurrent or dismissed.

[00:07:22]Okay. But the focus is on the murder.

[00:07:23]All right. So, I will set the murder for trial. Do you want to make sure, Mr. Freeman, that you understand that after today I will not accept any plea agreements.

[00:07:32]The cases obviously are very old and part of that is because we handled the other ones and there's been appeal, so some time has passed. And so your case is going to get bumped up pretty quickly, uh, for the top of the trial list. And so, if there's any other negotiations, I need to know about it well before the trial or the pre-trial date. But, unless there's new information that comes to light for your attorney or the state's attorney, I will not accept any plea agreements. Do you understand? Yes, ma'am. All right. You can go back with the bailiff.

[00:08:01]Thank you, Judge. Yes, sir. Thank you.

[00:08:09]Good morning. Are you Eric Seacrest?

[00:08:10]Yes, ma'am. And Mr. Seacrest is charged in cause number 25, DCCR1836, with burglary of a habitation. Mr. Lewis has filed a motion asking that I reduce, uh, the bond, which is currently set at $50,000.

[00:08:29]Um, Mr. Lewis, you may proceed. And Mr. Seacrest, as you can, raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're going to give in this hearing will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Yes, your honor. Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. Lewis. Uh, Mr. Seacrest, will you state your full name for the record?

[00:08:45]Eric Martin Seacrest, Jr. Okay. At the time that you were arrested, were you, uh, employed at that time?

[00:08:52]Uh, actually, uh, was I had a job interview for Walmart the next day, and I missed it. But, you at that time you weren't working? No, no, no, sir. No, sir.

[00:09:02]>> Up until the time that you were arrested, were you able to have any money saved or anything like that that you could be used that you could use to post your bond?

[00:09:10]Uh, we could No, sir. My sister was planning on helping me out. Okay. So, any help would come from your family? My family. Yes, yes, sir. Okay. Now, the employment opportunity that you did speak of, is that still available to you? Yeah, as soon as I go home. Like, she actually asked about me Monday morning, yesterday morning. Okay.

[00:09:30]And, uh, there's I have a neighbor in my neighborhood, Mhm. and, uh, she has like a bunch of overgrown trees, and she was asking my sister if I could come over there and and clear out all the stuff and she was going to pay me to >> [clears throat] >> to help bond out. If you were able to make bond, where would you be living? Uh at 16161 House Street in Groesbeck, Texas. Okay. Now, is that uh the same residence as the complainant in this case? No, no, no. That's my sister's house. Okay.

[00:09:58]Um so, you would be able to uh uh uh handle any type of bond conditions, for example, like no contact if it would Would you be able to do things of that nature? Absolutely and uh the job is walking distance from my house. Like it it will it will take me 20 minutes to walk there. My house is and I do I just bought a brand new bicycle so I could ride my bike straight to Walmart to go to work. Okay. Now, as far as the bond amount, um it's currently set at 50,000.

[00:10:27]About how much do you think uh your family could afford and would you afford to try to help bond you out?

[00:10:33]Well, um I'd say cuz I have another bond that's 10,000 and so probably around that area. So so she can get a better deal with the bondsman like around 10,000 extra. So, you're asking for a bond to set at 10,000 on this case, but ultimately you would you would have a bond obligation of $20,000.

[00:10:54]Yes, yes, yes, sir.

[00:10:56]What is this other bond for?

[00:10:59]It's for an assault case, I believe, Judge. A misdemeanor The misdemeanor assault It's a misdemeanor assault case.

[00:11:05]Uh any questions? No questions, Judge.

[00:11:07]Let me check. Any other witnesses? Oh, no, Judge. All right, Mr. Smith, what is the state's position?

[00:11:12]Judge, um This was a case where he broke into this house, sliced his arm very badly on the window trying to break through the window, uh assaulted uh the victim in the case, stole her phones, and ran away uh after the police had been called.

[00:11:35]Um She was able to We were able to find him because they used the Track My iPhone.

[00:11:40]Uh it's family violence. They live together at the time.

[00:11:44]Uh and we have had contact with her. She can even talk to me last week. Uh before last on this. So, we would be opposed to a bond reduction.

[00:11:54]And just for the record, I'm taking judicial notice of the court's file. It does include the probable cause affidavit and so have reviewed that as well. Um Anything else, Mr. Lewis? Well, judge, uh this is one that we of course reset from recently when we the state was looking to hear from the complainant in this matter. And I think like Mr. Smith said, they did have a chance to talk to her.

[00:12:16]And even from my understanding from that that conversation, what what we're dealing with is a situation where it's still kind of shaky as far as factually of what went on between him and her that evening.

[00:12:27]Um it is something that uh he definitely wants to pursue uh uh I'm not just going to say a trial, but to pursue this matter further as far as trying to get it resolved.

[00:12:40]Um he does he does have plans to hire his own attorney uh >> [clears throat] >> who is a Mr. Parker. He's going out. But that's that's initially who was the family is going to try to help help hire for him.

[00:12:53]So, they're looking to bond him out and hire his own attorney as they proceed with this matter.

[00:12:58]Um we're just asking for him to have that opportunity that way he can he can get back to work and help pay for that on his own and not be situated any burden or obligation on his family moving forward.

[00:13:12]All right. At this time, taking into consideration the factors in our 17.15, I'm I'm going to um find that it is not uh in the best interest to uh grant the motion uh to reduce the bond. I'm going to that Uh the underlying facts, the testimony today and