Latest news with #78thDistrictCourt
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
LIVE BLOG: Closing arguments in Kienlen's trial
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story contains details from testimony referencing suicide and suicidal ideations that are graphic, and some readers may find them disturbing. Discretion is advised before reading. If you or someone you know might be struggling, call the National Suicide Hotline by dialing 988 or text 'HELLO' to 741741. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Wichita County prosecutors are set to rest and close their case after more rebuttal witnesses take the stand in the trial of a U.S. Army veteran accused of opening fire on multiple law enforcement officials in October 2021. PREVIOUS STORY: Anthony Kienlen takes the stand in his own defense Anthony Michael Kienlen, 38, of Wichita Falls, stands accused of attempted capital murder of a peace officer, the single charge he pleaded not guilty to on the first day of his trial on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of aggravated assault against a public servant pending against him when his indictment was read. Testimony began on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in the 78th District Court, with Judge Meredith Kennedy presiding, after a jury of 11 women and one man was seated on Tuesday, May 20. A recap of previous testimony can be found below: Day 1 — Testimony begins in trial of Anthony Kienlen for Turkey Ranch Road standoff Day 2 — Body armor, weapons admitted, Wichita County Sheriff testifies Day 3 — 911 call played, Anthony Kienlen takes the stand in his own defense The Wichita County Courthouse was closed on Monday, May 26, 2025, in observance of Memorial Day. Testimony resumed on Tuesday morning, May 27, with prosecutors calling the last of the state's rebuttal witnesses before closing arguments, which may come as early as Tuesday afternoon. PREVIOUS STORY: Body armor, guns admitted, Wichita Co. Sheriff testifies Joseph Vrecheck, Wichita County's Assistant District Attorney, and John Gillespie, Wichita County District Attorney, are prosecuting Kienlen's case. Dustin Nimz, a defense attorney based in Wichita Falls, is representing Kienlen during his trial. If convicted, Kienlen faces up to life in prison. Before the trial began, he elected to have the jury assess his punishment if found guilty.10:40 a.m. — Judge Kennedy instructed the jury to find Kienlen guilty of counts 2 through 14, and 16 and 17 of the indictment, the counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer to which Kienlen pleaded guilty when his trial began. 9:39 a.m. — Ranger Kelly testified that the most dangerous situations for law enforcement are domestic disputes, because law enforcement officers have to insert themselves into the situation. 9:38 a.m. — Ranger Kelly testified that law enforcement was stationed away from the gate. He testified that he didn't drive his vehicle down to the gate because, inside his vehicle, he'd be a sitting target. He testified that the firearms Anthony Kienlen was wielding were 'much more powerful' than handguns. 9:35 a.m. — The jury returned to the courtroom. On the stand for the prosecution is Matt Kelly, a Texas Ranger who responded to the Kienlen residence on Oct. 13, 2021. John Gillespie, Wichita County District Attorney, questioned Ranger Kelly as a rebuttal 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Blankenship fentanyl murder trial stays in Wichita County
WICHITA COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — The upcoming murder trial of a man accused of selling counterfeit Percocet pills laced with fentanyl that killed a 20-year-old Wichita Falls woman will not be moving from Wichita County. That's after today's change of venue hearing in the 78th District Court. In late August 2022, Jakob Joel Blankenship was arrested for the death of 20-year-old Zoe Brewer in April of that year. He was 19 at the time. During the Friday, May 16 hearing, Blankenship's defense called witnesses to the stand, including attorney Jim Rasmussen, who testified that they do not believe Blankenship can get a fair trial in Wichita County due to media coverage. The defense also argued a fentanyl campaign on local billboards would influence potential jurors. In the end, Judge Meredith Kennedy ruled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Trial for murder at Dollar Saver to resume May 12
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Testimony is set to resume on May 12, 2025, in the trial of a man accused of murder after a 23-year-old was fatally shot at a convenience store on Central Freeway in Wichita Falls in 2022. READ MORE: Defendant in Dollar Saver murder once again appealing for lower bond Adan Chavez, 26, of Wichita Falls, was indicted by a Wichita County grand jury in January 2023 for murder. Despite his bond being lowered, he's been in the Wichita County Jail since his initial arrest in late 2022. Chavez's pending trial has seen multiple delays, from a writ of habeas corpus that went through the appellate process to multiple defense motions being filed. After nearly two and a half years, the trial of Chavez got underway on Monday, April 28, 2025, in the 78th District Court, with Judge Meredith Kennedy presiding. According to courthouse officials, the prosecution still has witnesses to call, but due to a scheduling conflict, testimony will be on hold until Monday, May 12, 2025, when proceedings are set to resume. The charge against Chavez stems from October 2022, when police found a man in his early 20s dead in the parking lot of a convenience store with multiple gunshot wounds. According to the affidavit, on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at 4:51 p.m., Wichita Falls Police were dispatched to a convenience store at 711 Central Freeway for a gunshot victim. The officers located the victim, Jorge Gonzalez, dead from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and head. Eyewitnesses at the scene provided information about what had happened. Information gathered during the investigation indicated Gonzalez was in a physical disturbance with Adan Chavez around 8 a.m. READ MORE: Affidavit sheds new light on Jogre Gonzalez's murder The report said the two men were in a fight on North Eighth Street, where several people were involved. Several witnesses said they heard Chavez say he was going to get a gun and come back. The witnesses said Chavez got out of the truck and retrieved a firearm from a cooler in the pickup's bed. Witnesses said Gonzalez saw Chavez retrieve the gun and told him to leave the gun alone and fight him. The witnesses said Chavez shot Gonzalez multiple times before getting back in the truck and forcing the driver to take him a short distance away, where he fled on 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Fentanyl-related murder defendant pleads guilty
WICHITA COUNTY (KFDX/KTJL) — A man set to face a judge and jury for murder after police said he sold a pill containing fentanyl to a college student who later died is now headed to prison. Brandon Reginald Curry, 24, of Wichita Falls, pleaded guilty to one count of murder and one count of manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance, namely fentanyl, in the amount of less than four grams on Friday, April 4, in the 78th District Court. Presiding Judge Meredith Kennedy sentenced Curry to 30 years in prison for murder and 10 years in prison for the drug charge, setting them to run concurrently. Curry was credited with 816 days of time already served. READ MORE: Upcoming trials in Texoma courtrooms Curry was arrested for the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in January 2023, and the murder charge was filed while he was in jail. He was first indicted in April 2023. The murder charge stems from September 18, 2022, when police responded to Mustang Village apartments after Midwestern State University student Adam Sattler was found unresponsive and face-down on a pillow. An autopsy showed Sattler had fentanyl in his system when he died. A witness said he and Sattler went to an apartment on Kemp to get Percocet from Curry after a football game. When police searched Sattler's room, they located drug paraphernalia — including two cut straws. BREAKING FENTANYL'S GRIP: Prosecuting fentanyl-related crimes A phone search revealed Sattler and Curry arranged a meeting on September 17, 2022. Police also found several months' worth of other messages before and after September 18, in which Curry discussed selling Percocet with potential buyers. Curry was under investigation by the WFPD Organized Crime Unit when he was arrested in a January 2023 traffic stop, and police said he attempted to discard a plastic bag that contained 37 fentanyl 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
