Latest news with #TexasPenalCode
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
No Sanctuary For Stash Houses: Texas Court Backs Paxton's Border Crackdown
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won a significant legal victory at the state's highest court, clearing the path for his lawsuit against a border aid organization to proceed. The Supreme Court of Texas overturned a lower court injunction that had halted Paxton's prosecution of Annunciation House, an El Paso nonprofit accused of illegally harboring undocumented immigrants. 'Today is a great victory for Texas, secure borders, and the rule of law,' Paxton said in a press release following the ruling. 'Annunciation House has flagrantly violated our laws by harboring illegal aliens and assisting them to enter further into our country.' The case stems from a 2024 lawsuit filed by Paxton's office against the El Paso-based organization. The Attorney General alleges the group operates as a 'stash house' in violation of Texas Penal Code provisions. Paxton's legal team built its case on what it describes as substantial public evidence and employee admissions. They argue that these revelations demonstrate systematic law violations by the nonprofit organization. An El Paso County district judge initially granted Annunciation House's request for an injunction, effectively halting the state's legal action against the Catholic-affiliated aid group. The state Supreme Court's decision addressed more than just procedural matters. Justices explicitly rejected claims that Paxton targeted the organization because of its religious connections. The high court found 'no evidence to support' accusations of religious discrimination in the case. Justices also reminded the trial court to presume the Attorney General acted in 'good faith' and with 'legality.' Paxton vowed to continue his enforcement efforts against similar organizations. 'I will do everything in my power to stop them and any other NGO breaking our laws,' he stated. Amy Warr, an attorney for Annunciation House, argued before the Texas Supreme Court that the religious organization has not broken any laws and has never hidden immigrants from law enforcement officers. She claimed that Paxton's attack against the nongovernmental organization is just anti-immigration political rhetoric, the El Paso Times reported. The ruling represents another chapter in ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement along the Texas-Mexico border. Humanitarian aid organizations are frequently caught between federal immigration policy and state-level prosecution efforts. With the injunction lifted, the case returns to the trial court level. Annunciation House will face the underlying criminal allegations in proceedings that can now proceed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dog daycare, boarding deaths prompt push to protect pets from negligence under Texas law
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas lawmakers overwhelmingly supported an effort to protect pets from negligence, known as 'Pancho's Law.' Pancho died in 2021 while under the care of a dog daycare business in Dallas. His family, Paul and Maria Mecca, have spent the last four years advocating for a change to Texas law that they believe will save other animals. 'My husband and I quickly learned there is a loophole in Texas law that allows pet service businesses to act with impunity by simply claiming negligence,' Maria told a Senate committee earlier this month. 'All they have to do is say 'I didn't mean to kill your dog.' No matter how egregious their actions may have been.' House Bill 285 adds 'criminal negligence' to the Texas Penal Code as conduct that constitutes a criminal offense of cruelty to non-livestock animals. The bill's author, Rep. Claudia Ordaz, D-El Paso, told her colleagues the goal is to provide families with a legal path to justice if their animal suffered harm because someone failed to use reasonable care. 'Under current law, families have limited recourse when their dogs or cats are injured due to such negligence. This bill seeks to ensure accountability and prevent those who act irresponsibly from endangering other pets in the future.' For several years, KXAN investigators have fielded tips about dogs who passed away while in the care of boarding, grooming and training facilities. In many cases, no lawsuits are filed and few law enforcement records of the deaths exist, beyond initial reports. When Brian Roby and Jordyn Hawkes lost their dog, Kali, last August, they said they quickly realized how few options they had. 'You know, what could we do? We could go to civil court and, 'Okay, your dog was worth $70. Here you go,'' Roby said, noting that pets are viewed as property under Texas law. In August 2024, the couple planned their wedding and subsequent honeymoon out-of-state. They dropped Kali off to stay at an Austin-area boarding and daycare facility for part of that time. The facility's staff was supposed drop Kali off at Jordyn's father's house, where she'd stay for the rest of their trip, but she never made it home. On the first day of their honeymoon, the newlyweds received a text alerting them that Kali had been rushed to an emergency veterinarian. KXAN investigators reviewed records from that medical provider, revealing Kali 'overheated in a daycare van.' She and another 3-year-old dog passed away. Hawkes said through tears, when recounting that day, 'I just had this feeling like, she was right the whole time. She was right to be scared of the car.' She added, 'I think the most shocking part of all this process has been just the lack of regulations that the state of Texas has [for the pet services industry].' KXAN reached out to the facility in Kali's case, but it declined to comment. 'We were in the lobby of this hotel that we had just gotten married at the day before, and to have this, like, super high and this crushing low was…' Brian trailed off. He went on to say, 'The grief kept coming in waves. It still does, you know, randomly grab — grab a hold, and it's been tough.' The couple began to connect with other families who have lost dogs and cats while in the care of pet services businesses — such as Katelyn Rohde. Rohde lost Roland, who she refers to as her 'silly goose,' at a Texas dog daycare facility. Shortly after, she started a nonprofit in Roland's name, with the goal of raising awareness and pushing for change. She's worked with other experts and advocates to publish guides to help other pet owners, such as a Dog Daycare Evaluation Guide and the Roland & Friends Guide to Selecting and Finding a Dog Trainer. 'All this information is not intended to be like a black-and-white 'this is what you do,' but ultimately, for you to, kind of, think through what is most important for your dog — for your silly goose — so you can establish what is best for them in those situations,' she said. Roland's Silly Goose Crew also launched a survey of pet owners', which showed 96% of respondents would be supportive or strongly supportive of Texas dog daycare facilities adopting more consistent safety, communication and transparency standards through regulation, voluntary safeguards or other measures. '1% better is 1% better when you're starting from nothing,' Rohde said. She said believes Pancho's Law is the first step. As HB 285 worked through the legislative process, some people raised concerns about an exception in the law for veterinarians. A provision states that these medical professionals have a defense to prosecution for alleged conduct that occurs while performing their duties as licensed veterinarians or as a person assisting the veterinarian. Some public commenters pushed back on that provision and asked lawmakers to hold medical professionals to the same standards as others under the law. Ashley Morgan, with the Texas Humane Legislation Network, addressed these concerns in her testimony before a Senate committee, noting that people and veterinarians can still be prosecuted, particularly for knowing or intentional harm. She told lawmakers that she sees the need for Pancho's Law regularly in her work as an attorney, when families come to her for help. 'I more often than not have to tell these people, 'There is nothing I can do for you,'' Morgan testified. KXAN reached out to more than 20 pet service business owners and managers in the Austin area to get a sense of how they feel about the potential change, if the governor signs HB 285 into law. The responses were mixed: a few raised concerns. One said, in part, 'While I am vehemently against any form of animal cruelty, at face value the threat of criminal prosecution for operating a kennel or grooming salon is nothing short of outrageous and would be a huge deterrent for these businesses to stay open.' They described thousands of owners of these facilities 'who often work 60+ hours a week, some just scraping by, and most of whom rely on the income of their business to live.' Several business operators told KXAN they supported the law and welcomed more regulation in the industry to protect pets. One said, in part, 'Hopefully this bill will help hold 'bad apples' in the pet care industry— as well as individuals — accountable for mistreatment and generally negligent behavior. Caring for animals is a big responsibility and should be treated as such.' Some facility operators were not aware of the proposal and said they would look into it; others declined to comment. HB 285 passed the House of Representatives with 125 vote in favor and 5 votes against. It passed out of the Senate unanimously. The bill has been sent to the Gov. Greg Abbott for consideration. If he signs it into law, it would go into effect this September. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Homosexual conduct' bill advances further than past attempts, as end-of-session deadlines approach
In 2023, a fifth of the country's state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. In 2025, Equality Texas reported a new record number of such bills filed at the State Capitol, surpassing 200 – up from 141 the session before. KXAN's team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the 'OutLaw' project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas' future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — A bill filed after KXAN's OutLaw investigation faced a steep challenge this legislative session but has progressed further than any of its predecessors. House Bill 1738 would repeal Texas' unconstitutional ban on 'homosexual conduct.' The House narrowly passed the bill in recent days, and it now awaits a Senate committee assignment as crucial deadlines approach at the end of the session. EXPLORE – OutLaw: A Half-Century Criminalizing LGBTQ+ Texans 'This law has been unenforceable for over 20 years but still sits on our books as a symbol of state-sanctioned discrimination,' the bill's author, Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, said in a post on X following the House vote. 'I authored HB 1738 because this isn't just about one law — it's about restoring core constitutional principles: the right to privacy, freedom from government overreach, equal protection under the law.' WATCH: Historic House vote, approving 'homosexual conduct' ban repeal The U.S. Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional in 2003, but Texas lawmakers never removed the language from statute. KXAN's legislative analysis shows at least 60 previous attempts to do just that since the 1980s. The most consistent group against such proposals has been the conservative activist organization Texas Values, which has registered or testified 17 times against nine of the bills – far more than any other group. Texas Values Director of Policy Jonathan Covey, the only individual who testified against HB 1738 in an April House committee hearing, told lawmakers his organization wanted to send a 'message that (homosexual conduct) is not acceptable conduct.' 'The position of our organization is that we don't want to pull something out (of statute) that's going to make it seem like homosexuality is more acceptable,' Covey said. Still listed in the Texas Penal Code as a Class C misdemeanor, the measure defines 'homosexual conduct' as engaging in 'deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex.' It contains only a brief notation indicating it is unenforceable due to the Court's Lawrence v. Texas decision, which rendered sodomy laws in more than a dozen states including Texas unenforceable. HB 1738 has had some bipartisan support. Among the handful of Republicans who voted with Democrats during House passage, two are listed among Jones' four co-authors: former House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, and Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Midland County sex offender arrests: what we know about the 8 men taken into custody
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Midland County Sheriff's Office arrested eight individuals during a sex offender compliance operation conducted on Thursday, May 22, 2025, with support from the Texas Department of Public Safety. The operation was carried out by the Sheriff's Criminal Investigations and Patrol Divisions, with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety's Criminal Investigations Division. It focused on locating and holding accountable sex offenders who failed to meet their legal obligations. Each of the individuals arrested was charged with Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Duty to Register, a felony offense under Texas Penal Code §62.102. This charge applies when a person who is legally required to register as a sex offender does not keep their registration current, for example, by failing to report changes in address, employment, or vehicle information. The level of the offense can vary depending on the person's underlying conviction and prior registration history. The following individuals were taken into custody: Gilbert EspinozaDOB: 8/28/1967Original Offenses:– Aggravated Sexual Assault (Victim age 19)– Aggravated Kidnapping involving a victim under 17Registration: Lifetime, Quarterly verification Leonard JacksonDOB: 9/7/1964Original Offense:– Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child (Victim age 13)Registration: Lifetime | Annual verification Nealy MitchellDOB: 7/30/1965Original Offenses:– Sexual Assault of a Child (Victim age 16)– Indecency with a Child by Contact (Victim age 7)Registration: Lifetime, Quarterly verification Nathaniel MontoyaDOB: 6/25/1973At the time of publication, Montoya's information was not publicly available in the Texas sex offender registry. John SmithDOB: 9/23/1956Original Offenses:– Multiple counts of Sexual Assault of a Child (Victim age 9)– Sexual Assault of a Child under 16 (Victim age 13)Registration: Lifetime, Quarterly verification David WebbDOB: 7/21/1955Original Offense:– Sexual Assault (Victim age 14)Registration: Lifetime, Annual verification Brian WeeksDOB: 4/18/1973Original Offense:– Sodomy of a Minor Under 12 (Victim age 12)Registration: Lifetime, Annual verification Michael WilliamsonDOB: 7/14/1989Original Offense:– Lewd or Indecent Acts Toward a Child Under 16 (Victim age 14)Jurisdiction: OklahomaRegistration: Lifetime, Annual verification The Midland County Sheriff's Office emphasized the role of public cooperation and Crime Stoppers in ensuring safety and accountability. 'Sheriff Criner remains committed to protecting the citizens of Midland County by arresting those who prey on our community,' the department said in a statement. 'Compliance operations like these send a clear message: failure to register will not be ignored.' Authorities say additional compliance checks may be conducted in the future as part of ongoing public safety efforts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lamesa ISD elementary school assistant principal arrested in Lubbock. Here's what we know
A Lamesa Independent School District assistant principal was arrested on Monday on a charge of assault of a family member by impeding breath or circulation. According to Lubbock County Detention Center records, Trey Addison, 42, was arrested in south Lubbock on May 12 by a Lubbock police officer. Records on what led to the arrest were not made immediately available; however, according to the detention center records, Addison bonded out on an unspecified amount on May 13. Addison is listed on Lamesa ISD's staff directory as the assistant principal of South Elementary in the school district. In a statement on social media, Lamesa ISD said it is aware of an off-campus incident involving a district employee. "At this time, we are respecting the legal rights and privacy of all individuals involved," read the statement. "Lamesa ISD remains focused on maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our students, staff, and community. As this is an ongoing matter, we are unable to provide further details at this time. We appreciate the community's understanding." According to Texas Penal Code 5.22.01, the offense occurs "by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the person by applying pressure to the person's throat or neck or by blocking the person's nose or mouth." The offense is considered a third-degree felony that is punishable by two to 10 years in jail and/or a fine up to $10,000. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lamesa ISD responds following assistant principal arrest in Lubbock
