Judge Raquel West SHUTS DOWN Claim: “You Were Paid Twice!”

[00:00:00]Good morning. Are you Jeremiah Davis?

[00:00:03]What does your shirt say?

[00:00:05][clears throat] >> Just trying to figure out what it says.

[00:00:11]I can't read it. Make sure it's appropriate.

[00:00:15][snorts] Mr. Smith, announcement.

[00:00:20]Mr. Smith, Mr. Parker, announcement. Uh, your honor, last time I asked the court for some time to provide a video to the district attorney's office and my client and his parents came in and provided me the video and I think it should >> if it was sent it to me last week I was on vacation.

[00:00:38]>> Okay. And >> I believe that's for reset just >> Okay, we'll just do one more normal reset to give y'all time to um take a look at all of that. Mr. Davis, stay in touch with Mr. Parker. He'll let you know when you need to be back. Okay.

[00:00:49]>> Kind of talk. It's hard to see. Okay, >> you're free to go. David Lewis, Mr. Parker, >> it's Preston.

[00:01:14]>> Preston. No, no, you're welcome.

[00:01:17]>> It's contagious.

[00:01:22]took me forever. I could never email him forever.

[00:01:24]>> I know. I still have a >> All right. Are you uh David Earl Lewis?

[00:01:30]>> Yes, sir.

[00:01:31]>> And Mr. Parker, will your client wave the formal reading of the indictment?

[00:01:34]>> You are.

[00:01:35]>> Mr. Lewis, and cause number 240830, you're charged with the state jail felony offense of unauthorized use of a vehicle from January 26th of 2024. And how do you plead to that charge? And are you pleading guilty freely and voluntarily?

[00:01:52][snorts] >> And are you pleading guilty because you actually did what they charged you with?

[00:01:56]>> I have here on the uh computer some documents [clears throat] that have your signature on them that the state has marked as exhibit number one before you signed these. Did you go over them with Mr. Parker?

[00:02:06]>> Do you fully understand them?

[00:02:11]>> Okay. Is there anything specific that you don't understand?

[00:02:16]I'm not sure.

[00:02:17]>> Okay. Well, so let me ask you this. If you do you understand that if I follow the agreement that you made with the district attorney that you'll be waving or giving up any right to appeal.

[00:02:30]So do you that means that you can't change your mind if I follow this agreement and give you the probation. Um you [clears throat] can't change your mind later and say, "Oh, no. I didn't do it." Do you understand that?

[00:02:40]>> Yes, ma'am. And it looks like the agreement that you reached is for a three-year deferred adjudicated probation with a $500 fine, and you would be required to follow all of the rules and conditions of probation. Do you understand that? [snorts] >> And do you also understand if you're not a US citizen that a plea of guilty or no contest may result in your deportation, exclusion from admission to the country, or denial of naturalization under federal law. I have I have to ask everyone that you're a US citizen.

[00:03:10]You were born here in US. Okay.

[00:03:14]>> Um >> I think it's confused. I've explained to him that he never been in trouble before that you you do everything you're supposed to do, you can possibly get off early, you know, and I encourage him to do that.

[00:03:23]>> So, uh state tenders number one.

[00:03:25]>> No objection.

[00:03:25]>> It's admitted. Is there any evidence that Mr. Lewis is not competent?

[00:03:28]>> No, your honor.

[00:03:29]>> Mr. Nichols, what's the state's position on waving precence report?

[00:03:32]>> I see no criminal history other than in this case, your honor. So, we have no problem with that.

[00:03:35]>> All right. So, Mr. Lewis, I'm going to wave the pre-scence report. I'm going to find that you entered your plea of guilty freely and voluntarily. Find that you're mentally competent and you understand the nature and the consequences of your plea. Find sufficient evidence to find you guilty, but I'm not going to find you guilty today. I'm going to follow that agreement that you made and defer all proceedings and place you on probation for three years. You're ordered to pay that $500 fine and to follow all of the rules and conditions of probation. If you do that, this is an excellent opportunity because that deferred probation means you are not a convicted felon right now. And if you complete the probation satisfactorily and do everything you're supposed to, then at the end the case is dismissed and you will never be a convicted felon. The other side of that though is if you violate any condition of probation, if you don't go to your appointments, you don't pay your fees, you test positive, you commit a new offense, whatever it is that you're supposed to do or not supposed to do. If you do that, then you could be brought back into court. You could be convicted, so you become a convicted felon, and you could be sent to prison for between six months and up to two years. Do you understand?

[00:04:44]>> All right. I'm handing you the trial court certification that shows this was an agreement that I followed. And so, you have weighed your right to appeal.

[00:04:53]You need to have a seat here in the courtroom. The lady sitting right there at that desk, she's with probation.

[00:04:58]She's going to call you up when she's ready to go over your paperwork. Okay.

[00:05:01]Good luck to you, sir.

[00:05:02]>> Good. Thank you. Thank y'all. Good morning. Are you Kaden Jones? And Miss Jones in cause number 242155 is charged with assault on a peace officer and in 24 2156 charged with obstruction or retaliation. And what is the announcement?

[00:05:17]>> Um your honor, we have received an offer from the state. I have not been able to meet with Miss Jones. Um so if I could get we should be able to get this resolved out the next court setting. I just need to meet with her.

[00:05:28]>> All right. I'm going to reset it one time. Miss Jones, it's very important that you call and make an appointment with Miss Holmes. It's not up to her to try to reach out and find you and make you come in to see her. You need to get that done. Call, make an appointment so y'all can go over everything she's received and then we'll get it taken care of at the next court date. Okay, you're free to go.

[00:05:48]>> And then LaMarcus Ligins, Miss Holmes.

[00:05:54]>> Okay. So kind of got question you have the original doc. So Mr. Jones I mean Mr. Ligins they had him on a parole hold in Walker County um for a month and we we would like for him to get that credit but we didn't he was on bond here but Walker County had put a parole hold on him and he was in custody for a month. They have since released him and um he's um reinstated, but we want to make sure he gets the credit because the offer was the 30 days.

[00:06:30]>> I've offered to reduce it to to to fit that time, your honor, based on facts of the case.

[00:06:34]>> So, we have the documentation from Walker County. You have the original >> if he's on if he's on bond. I don't think I can legally do that.

[00:06:47]>> You know what I mean? If it doesn't it >> if there if if there's not a hole, there's no way to fix that, is there?

[00:06:53]>> I mean, if if he wasn't on bond and just hadn't made that bond yet, >> then that's something that's a little easier for us to do. But if he's actually on a bond, then that bond shows up in our system. And if we go in and say he gets credit for time, you've looked this up. Help me out.

[00:07:16]>> Brief the judge. I mean, the case law says that >> I can if he it doesn't it >> if there if there's not a hold, there's no way to fix that, is there?

[00:07:25]>> I mean, if if he wasn't on bond and just hadn't made that bond yet, >> then that's something that's a little easier for us to do. But if he's actually on a bond, then that bond shows up in our system. And if we go in and say he gets credit for time, you've looked this up. Help me out.

[00:07:47]>> Brief the judge. I mean, the case law says that >> I can do whatever.

[00:07:51]>> Or you can give this defendant credit for anytime he's been in custody anywhere as long as our case was pending. Now, out on bond, I don't know about the issue of being out on bond.

[00:08:00]It's a whole another animal. But what I researched was whether or not someone was in custody in another jurisdiction, another state, uh, while our case was pending. Notwithstanding whether or not there was a hole, you can give them credit for confinement.

[00:08:14]>> I mean, if no, I mean, who's going to complain? I guess if we do it, is it physically possible to do in the y'all can make it happen? [snorts] >> Does this shows his in at the top when he went in and his release date? He went in on 512 511 51 >> and was released on 612 >> cuz the offer was to reduce it to give him 30 days the credit >> and if he's already been in and bonded out then that's actually better because we have make sure you have that and uh because we have then him because if not then he would have to go at least get in and get out but if we've if he's been in our jail and bonded that makes it easier.

[00:08:54]>> Yeah.

[00:08:57]I think he had like a day in our jail.

[00:08:59]>> Okay. Okay.

[00:09:01]>> Yeah. I'm going to take care of that paperwork.

[00:09:03]>> I mean, it's all obviously it's all pending your approval. The reason that the offer is the way it is is is because of the facts considering that this it's a shoplift and he does have old priors.

[00:09:13]>> Uh he was on point, but um based on my review of the file, I thought I thought 30 days for time he's done was a fair resolution.

[00:09:26]What I'm not showing is anything for well a lot of that time was incarcerated but I haven't there's nothing for a while.

[00:09:33]>> Um and so I want to make sure the court knew that because I know how you feel about these cases when I do that.

[00:09:38]>> Sorry. Um and parole is not going to Are you still on parole? you know, they they already know the decision >> and I and I spoke with his parole um in Huntsville, Miss Harper, and cuz we've been in touch and they've reinstated him and they don't anticipate to do anything, but >> Okay. All right. Y'all get the paperwork done.

[00:09:58]>> Okay. Thank you.

[00:09:58]>> Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am.

[00:10:01]>> And and hang on to that because I think I want that for the record if y'all don't mind just for us to have so Anna has those dates.

[00:10:11]But >> it's pajama pants.

[00:10:14]>> Gosh.

[00:10:15]>> I don't >> I mean to risk your >> I know there's >> to risk it all. It makes no sense to me.

[00:10:22]>> Um Miss Holmes, uh let's take care of Deontay Randolph. That's a sentencing.

[00:10:26]Good morning. You're Paul McCorvy >> and Mr. McCorvy in cause number 241914 is charged with theft of property. And what is the announcement? Judge, this allegation is a result from a probate matter that was going on. Uh mainly dealing between him and the sister. Uh there was a hearing dealing with some of this property earlier this month. My understanding there's not any more settings set in probate court at this point. They're trying to liquidate a lot of the property now. Um I have not received the uh transcript from the last hearing.

[00:11:02]>> Okay. Okay.

[00:11:03]>> And my understanding in that last hearing, there was some definitely some relevant information in regards to this property. That's that question here.

[00:11:10]>> Okay.

[00:11:10]>> That assisted [clears throat] >> and you've made that request for that transcript. Okay.

[00:11:15]>> All right. Then any issues that you know?

[00:11:16]>> No, your honor. My notes are that there might need some >> transcript documents to help.

[00:11:21]>> All right. So, I'll do a normal reset about 30 days. See if you get that transcript between now and then. Stay in touch with Mr. Lewis so that when he does get that, you guys can go over it and then we'll see if we can get an announcement the next court date. You're free to go.

[00:11:37]>> Huh?

[00:11:41]>> Good morning. You're LaMarcus Ligins.

[00:11:44]Answer out loud, please.

[00:11:45]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:11:46]>> And will your client wave the formal reading of the indictment? Good.

[00:11:49]>> And we're going on count one only. And in that count to the lesser included, correct?

[00:11:53]>> Yes, sir.

[00:11:53]>> Mr. Liggins, in cause number 242391, your charge, the state has elected to proceed on uh count one only. And in that count to the lesser included offense of a class B misdemeanor, and that's from November 1st of 2024. And how do you pleaded that charge?

[00:12:11]>> Are you pleading guilty freely and voluntarily? And are you pleading guilty because you did what they've charged you with? I have here on the computer some documents that have your signature on them that the state has marked as exhibit number one before you sign these. Did you go over them with Miss Holmes? And do you fully understand them?

[00:12:29]>> And do you understand if I follow the agreement that you've made with the district attorney that you will be waving or giving up any right to appeal?

[00:12:38]and the agreement that you've reached just for 30 days in the Jefferson County jail, but that I would give you credit and we've already been I've already been handed that document that shows that you spent some time while on bond on this case in Waller County, Texas.

[00:12:51]>> Walker Walker >> Walker >> Walker County, Texas.

[00:12:53]>> Approximately 32 days in their jail.

[00:12:56]>> Okay. And that's everyone's understanding and request that I give him credit for that.

[00:13:00]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:13:01]>> Right. Um, state tenders number one.

[00:13:04]>> No objection.

[00:13:04]>> It's admitted. And sir, are you a US citizen?

[00:13:08]>> Is there any evidence that Mr. Ligins is not competent?

[00:13:11]>> All right, sir. I'm going to find that you entered your plea of guilty freely and voluntarily. Find that you're mentally competent and you understand the nature and the consequences of your plea. Find sufficient evidence to find you guilty and at this time find you guilty of lesser offense of a class B misdemeanor theft. Sentence you in accordance with that agreement to a term of 30 days in the Jefferson County Jail.

[00:13:31]I will give you credit for that time served in Walker County. I'm going to hand you the trial court certification that shows this was an agreement that I followed and so you have waved your right to appeal. Um, good luck to you, sir. You're free to go.

[00:13:45]>> Thank you. Your honor, >> thank you all for working that out.

[00:13:47]>> Okay, >> good. You're Mark Garcia. Thank you for calling ahead and letting us know that you were having issues. Um, I'll recall that bond far forfeiture. Mr. Garcia, were you able to get someone hired?

[00:13:57]>> Uh, no, I wasn't, but I am waiting on one call back. I made a few calls, but certainly was a little too expensive to be honest. Who'd you talk to?

[00:14:04]>> Um, I talked to David Ber, Chadwick Robersonson, Herman Martinez, and I'm waiting on a call back from Jamal Johnson. I have a few other lawyers that I called on here that they were just too much.

[00:14:16]>> Okay.

[00:14:19]And you're working?

[00:14:20]>> Yes.

[00:14:20]>> Okay. So, I'm going to give you one more reset. You need to try to keep, as you can tell from talking to them, they all charge different amounts.

[00:14:27]>> Talk to um at least three more, if not more than that. See if you can get someone hired before that.

[00:14:33]low cost.

[00:14:34]>> So, I can't recommend attorneys. Um, I don't know some of those names that you were talking about and so some of them might be from out of town. My suggestion is typically an in town lawyer would probably be more reasonably priced.

[00:14:49]>> Um, Google criminal district defense attorneys in Jefferson County. You're going to get a list of them that I think is probably different than that list.

[00:14:57]This >> is the one they gave me for Jefferson County on Google.

[00:15:00]>> Okay. Okay.

[00:15:01]>> Um, you also can walk across to the bar association is right across this lobby, the Jefferson County Bar Association.

[00:15:07]They have a a criminal referral or referral program and they can give you a list of three attorneys. Um, so when you leave here today, walk straight over there. There's a door. You just need to knock on that door and they can it's right here across straight across. When you walk out this door, go straight across um to the other side and it's on this floor. So, I'm going to give you another 30 days to see if you can get someone hired. Okay. Step in front of the clerk right here. Right. You are Chenika Washington >> and Miss Washington. I called your case this morning and you weren't here. Where were you?

[00:15:41]>> My daughter.

[00:15:43]>> I can't hear and understand you.

[00:15:44]>> I was late. My daughter wasn't calling.

[00:15:47]She couldn't call.

[00:15:49][clears throat] >> Okay.

[00:15:51]So, I recall that bond forfeite. Did you get a lawyer hired?

[00:15:58]You hired him.

[00:16:01]>> No, you were here before and I told you that since you bonded out that you're supposed to go hire a lawyer. Do you remember that?

[00:16:11]>> Okay.

[00:16:13]>> I talked to yesterday.

[00:16:18]>> I need you to speak loudly and clearly.

[00:16:22]>> So for 30 days, how many lawyers did you call?

[00:16:30]What's the other one's name?

[00:16:35]>> Why wouldn't you write that stuff down?

[00:16:40]>> Well, what how does that make sense?

[00:16:45]>> If I test you this morning, you can have something in your system.

[00:16:48]>> Have a seat in the jury box. Let's get that tested.

[00:16:52]So, Miss Washington, you tested positive for THC. benzoazipene and admitted to using PCP two weeks ago. Is that correct?

[00:17:06]>> How'd you get here today?

[00:17:12]Answer out loud.

[00:17:15]>> Okay, stand right here. Mhm.

[00:17:19]>> So obviously this is a violation of your bond conditions and it is not safe for me to have you out while you're on bond for a felony using PCP, benzoas, all of all this stuff. When's the last time you smoked marijuana and used benzo?

[00:17:45]>> Marijuana?

[00:17:48]So, pretty much had a big party two weeks ago, used it all.

[00:17:51]>> Depression.

[00:17:53]>> The pressure of what?

[00:17:54]>> Depression.

[00:17:56]>> Depression.

[00:17:57]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:17:58]>> You do understand that all of these things makes that worse, not better.

[00:18:05]>> Do you have a doctor that you're going to?

[00:18:08]>> Um, I don't know what happened to him. I just hours.

[00:18:18]>> Hold on a second. Hold on a second. If you want to see if your client can get back real quick. We just reset it just because it had gotten so late. But if he just left, if you want to try to call him or have your office call him if y'all want to take care of it with the plea today, we can do it.

[00:18:32]>> Let me try to get him right now.

[00:18:33]>> Okay.

[00:18:34]>> See if I can get him on sale.

[00:18:35]>> Thank you.

[00:18:36]>> All right.

[00:18:37]>> Um Okay.

[00:18:41]>> [clears throat] >> I don't I I don't believe that the last time you used was a couple weeks ago.

[00:18:46]You're not coherent. Hang on.

[00:18:49]>> So, what Miss Washington, I'm going to um Hold on. Let me find >> What was her bond set at? Can y'all tell real quick?

[00:19:03]>> Oh, I got it. I'm finding it.

[00:19:12]>> [snorts] >> going to find that you violated your bond conditions by using all of these substances.

[00:19:24]And I'm going to raise your bond at this time. Find that you're at large without or based on those bond conditions. Raise your bond.

[00:19:41]Hm.

[00:19:45]>> This show you have 6,000.

[00:19:46]>> 6,000. It is 6,000.

[00:19:48]>> All right. I'm going to raise your bond to $15,000 in your case. A condition of that bond, if you make it, is that you have to wear a drug patch. You have to have that drug patch put on within 24 hours of your release and give proof to that of that to your bondsman. If you test positive on that drug patch, you're going to be right back in jail with a much higher bond. Do you understand?

[00:20:10]>> Go back with the baiff.

[00:20:14]>> Your bondsman can tell you where to get it.

[00:20:16]>> Okay.

[00:20:18]>> Good morning, sir. You're Johnny Palano.

[00:20:20]>> And Mr. Palano's case is set for trial to begin with jury selection on uh Monday. Is there anything that uh can be worked out this today? I I think it's a penitentiary time offer. He addition as a case Mr. Smith has represented that >> will be picked up by the >> So, Mr. Palanco, Mr. Kimler um has a um a vacation letter in for next week and so we are going to reset your case to the next available trial docket. I do want to make sure that you understand that whatever offer on the table today will not be accepted after today. So change your mind and you want to enter a plea today, we can get that taken care of. Otherwise, it'll get set for trial.

[00:21:01]If you later change your mind, you could plea open to the court or to something different than what's on the table today. Do you understand?

[00:21:08]>> Answer out loud. Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am.

[00:21:10]>> And so, do you want to uh stay on the trial docket?

[00:21:14]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:21:14]>> Okay. Uh we will move it to the next available trial docket. Stay in touch with Mr. Kimler, your bondsman. They'll let you know when you need to be back.

[00:21:27]have a medical.

[00:21:30]>> Who's that?

[00:21:32]>> Drug test.

[00:21:34]>> Oh, did he? What kind of >> I don't know if is here.

[00:21:39]>> Oh, are they going to come through?

[00:21:40]>> They I think they're back.

[00:21:42]>> They're already back there.

[00:21:44]>> Do we need a break or are we good?

[00:21:48]>> Okay. Just tell me if we need a break.

[00:21:52]I know. I I'm just looking to see. You want to ask him? Call him up and ask him.

[00:22:02]>> Mr. Albert Brittain, >> come up, sir.

[00:22:06]>> Okay.

[00:22:12]>> Hang on a second. All right, sir. You're Daryl Albritten.

[00:22:21]Let me find you.

[00:22:25]>> It's very important, Mr. Albritten, that you're here on time. Okay.

[00:22:30]>> Okay. [clears throat] Where do you work?

[00:22:34]>> Okay. So, I'm going to recall the bond forfeite. Did you get someone hired?

[00:22:44]>> Speak up and cloud clearly working every day. So, time.

[00:22:52]>> Did you talk to some lawyers?

[00:22:54]>> Yeah. Well, um, they told me appointed lawyer. He told me >> What did I What did I tell you the last time you were here?

[00:23:01]>> Told me my own life.

[00:23:04]>> Right. And what did I tell you about that specifically?

[00:23:08]>> How many did I tell you to talk to?

[00:23:11]>> Five. Four.

[00:23:13]>> Three.

[00:23:15]>> And to bring me their names?

[00:23:17]And if you didn't do that, what can happen?

[00:23:22][clears throat] >> Do you not remember?

[00:23:27]>> No.

[00:23:28]>> Do you not remember?

[00:23:30]>> What were your hour? When did you What time did you work?

[00:23:33]>> I work 5 till 4:00.

[00:23:37]>> 5 a.m.

[00:23:39]>> to 4:00 p.m. For what company specifically?

[00:23:43]>> What company do you work for specifically?

[00:23:45]>> Apache. Apache.

[00:23:48]>> Do they drug test you?

[00:23:50]>> Well, I don't I don't smoke.

[00:23:55]>> Well, you're making me wonder if you don't if you're not using drugs and you're why you're not thinking clearly and doing what I asked you to do.

[00:24:09]>> This time.

[00:24:09]>> This time you're going to do it. How many times have you been here?

[00:24:24]How much do you make an hour?

[00:24:26]>> 26.

[00:24:28]>> You have two weeks. Hire a lawyer within two weeks or talk to three lawyers.

[00:24:33]Listen carefully.

[00:24:36]Hire someone within two weeks. or if you cannot talk to at least three lawyers in person, on the phone, something. Talk to them. Bring me those names. Tell me what they told you. You need to write it all down. I want to know what they're charging. I want to know that you actually talked to them. Don't just look it up and say, "I talked to three lawyers." I want to know what you found out. If you do not do that, you will go to jail on the next court date. There will be no excuses. Two weeks. Do you understand? Is there any question about what you're supposed to do? All right.

[00:25:10]Step in front of the clerk. She'll give you a reset notice. It looks like you guys subbed in in June.

[00:25:16]And this is 240512.

[00:25:21]And goodness, everything's moving slow now.

[00:25:39]And Mr. Gobbert's charged with attempt to commit sexual performance by a child from August 2nd of 2023. And what is your announcement obviously is that you need some time >> discovery.

[00:25:50]>> Have y'all already requested and received most of that through the portal?

[00:25:53]>> Um, yes. I've gotten the paper discovery. I just need to get the media footage.

[00:25:57]>> Okay. All right. Uh, is there any notations for Mr. Hoffower? any issues?

[00:26:00]>> No, your honor.

[00:26:01]>> All right. So, we'll just do a normal reset. That's about 30 days to give you time to get that media. Mr. uh Gobert, make sure you stay in touch with your lawyer so that once they get that, you can go visit with them and we'll get an announcement the next court date. All right. Thank you. Y'all are free to go.

[00:26:23][snorts] >> Mr. Renick, you've got Alexandria Bledsoe. Yes, John.

[00:26:30]>> Good morning. Are you Alexandria Bledsoe?

[00:26:33]>> And will your client?

[00:26:34]>> In the end, the truth was already in the records. After reviewing all the evidence, the court reached a clear conclusion. The payment had already been made twice. With that confirmation, the dispute finally came to an end, proving once again that facts speak louder than arguments. Justice was served and the case was closed.