[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},"mediaId",6209446,"mediaKeyId","3734325-c726febec5f83c2852f295c03782ef81","parentId",3734325,"title","252nd District Court session: pleas, deferred probations, dismissals and trial settings","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3960000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3734325-c726febec5f83c2852f295c03782ef81&start=3960&end=3960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3734325-c726febec5f83c2852f295c03782ef81/thumbnail_3960000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6209446/Texas/252nd-District-Court-session-pleas-deferred-probations-dismissals-and-trial-settings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209446-95ea32988a71b3602e6edc1362afff9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773710857&Signature=ogUE~VPQWHl8bk28OZfrPQBBW7AUQx2f~a88ECqBlrn0g~GjlYqaugf77zZZNpkw28xOfN28uvacP75QQIpSrfTD95WL-zv7kv1D46li71PInxOFyQD6FGtQ7Kxg5h3d4t2UICva-djwP0X4nTHaErUs5ornwxi-zOBqVEjs7H-r38-gsO5VC7DZ0fjRKkOcZ6R0kWvCdUokV7LxhXNqdPe2Z0utRH-EWXGKMqb1XqlL99yiMzqLH3lZJexRbo4rHUhwodPkrasNHsSgY1z5DAZA0tWXaqzKgQI5WJgoz03ju-WP-OYC5U8U~abgbJDz7GdDdIEr4v6wKy0E3uwuUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-10T09:24:17.08Z","article","The 252nd District Court handled a range of routine and substantive matters, including guilty pleas, sentencing, dismissals, counsel changes and trial settings during a lengthy calendar call.

Notable outcomes included deferred probation sentences, a dismissal with forfeiture, a defendant's rejection of a plea offer and several continuances for counsel or discovery.

Why it matters: The court entered dispositions that directly affect the liberty and records of several defendants (deferred probations can avoid felony convictions upon successful completion), resolved at least one property-forfeiture/dismissal combination, and scheduled several matters for further action or trial.

Key case actions and outcomes at a glance

- Romero Reyes (cause not fully specified in transcript): Judge accepted a plea, found sufficient evidence, and followed the parties’ agreement to defer proceedings for five years with a $500 fine and the conditions of probation. If Reyes completes probation successfully, the case will be dismissed and he will avoid a felony conviction.

- Michael Machen (PSI case 241408): The court accepted the plea agreement presented by counsel and deferred proceedings, placing Machen on probation for 10 years with a $500 fine; the court explained early termination from probation may be possible if conditions are met.

- James Ward (cause 240541): Ward pleaded guilty to the lesser-included offense of robbery (degree felony); the court found the plea voluntary, ordered a pre-sentence investigation by probation to determine restitution and reset the matter for sentencing.

- Arthur Johnson (24DCCR1325): The state and defense announced an agreement; the judge signed a dismissal and a forfeiture of the weapon. The court acknowledged the defendant must not possess firearms.

- Maverick Neal (24DCCR2436): Neal rejected a plea offer and instructed counsel to proceed to trial; the court placed the case on the trial docket and directed the defense to prepare.

- David Holland (theft of service): Counsel informed the court of a negotiated settlement amount of $2,300 with the district attorney; the judge reset the matter for 45 days for payment to be arranged.

- Kelly McBride: The court granted the motion of counsel Padgett to withdraw and reset the case about 30 days for McBride to obtain new counsel or consult with at least three lawyers, per the judge’s instruction.

Other procedural matters included numerous initial appearances in which defendants were told to consult with at least three lawyers or to fill out paperwork to seek court-appointed counsel, continuances for discovery or expert information (for example, the court granted a 30- or 60-day reset in cases where probation reports or forensic information remain outstanding), and U.S. citizen/immigration warnings with guilty pleas where applicable.

Quotes from the session included the judge’s explanation to defendants about deferred probation: \"If you do that, then this is an excellent opportunity because you do not have a felony or this felony conviction on your record, and at the end of that probation period, if you're successful, the case gets dismissed.\" (Presiding Judge)

Ending: The calendar produced immediate outcomes for several defendants and set deadlines or resets in others; several matters will return to court on the dates ordered for sentencing, payment or further proceedings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Judge Raquel West's Personal Meeting Room","oneSentenceSummary","The 252nd District Court processed multiple pleas, sentencing orders and case resets, including deferred probation sentences in two cases, a dismissal and forfeiture in a firearm case, and a defendant rejecting a plea and opting for trial.","taxTitle","252nd District Court, District Court Judges, Judicial, Texas","taxId",66306,"location","Texas","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":42,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6209451,"Judge holds motion to quash open, orders state to narrow indictment in James Rucker hazardous-waste case",4020,4020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3734325-c726febec5f83c2852f295c03782ef81&start=0&end=4020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3734325-c726febec5f83c2852f295c03782ef81/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6209451/Texas/Judge-holds-motion-to-quash-open-orders-state-to-narrow-indictment-in-James-Rucker-hazardous-waste-case","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209451-0526601debc70ba5ca460ebdd1671c07/orig.mp4?Expires=1773710857&Signature=J47G7xyh6ZkFr6XuUuY0u5gwV2g4Ri8ss7AIsAW0-GVkM6s0R7ZWH2RzIlSoQG0~WUHx544HFvyRSvRpiviEmcEselVLJweMQ1VZkhkdttOGvgjX9Ti7RTKwUAq1FlZC3bU~24zWfBnRgeyBM~Y753J~q2Ax~R4kkaqQ5WPAEcdumFBkaLjkFfO5cxExCE31JQKWAED7vFJr4Qm6N9VnoI-vdf6zIxTBMYHviT7TfGVWGtGncerng65N5OdatlEWfhX0YYW6HREG5~6n-ABKvPuHcJ3PJHvl3nkz~G-SoIH5qrWnNo2Idf0cZka80UHIRH28G9~AZ9hfZXcUMTodhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Presiding Judge held a hearing on a motion to quash an indictment against James Rucker and ordered prosecutors to file a more specific amendment to the indictment within about one week.

The judge said the motion raised questions about the charging statute and the wording of the indictment and noted the motion cited statutory and pleading issues the court wanted clarified. The judge reviewed case law the parties cited and told the state to consider narrowing the language used to describe how the offense was committed.

Why it matters: The defendant argued that the indictment's wording—particularly the clause describing how the offense occurred—was too broad. Defense counsel told the court the count listed multiple alternate acts (store, process, export, dispose) and then enumerated possible ways the offense could have been committed (lack of required permits, knowing violation of permit conditions, or violation of some other unstated rule). Counsel said that, as drafted, the indictment did not give the defendant adequate notice of which statutory violation or permit condition he allegedly breached.

Prosecutors responded that the indictment included the statutory language and a specific date and that an individual with direct knowledge of the operations would understand the accusation. The prosecutor acknowledged the indictment could be more specific but urged the court that the defendant should know the factual basis from discovery.

After hearing argument and citing appellate decisions on pleading alternate manner-and-means, the judge said she would hold the motion open for now and directed the state to prepare and file an amended indictment that clarifies the particular allegation(s) as to the method or specific rule allegedly violated. The judge said if the amendment is filed and the defense remains dissatisfied, the defense may renew the motion to quash and the court will rule then.

The court set a short timeline for that amendment and a return to court if necessary.

Quotes from the hearing included the judge's instruction to the parties: \"I'm going to hold the motion open to quash, and I'm going to ask the state to amend to make the indictment more specific ... If you'll get that done within a week or so ... if you still have an issue, the motion to quash is still open, we can come back in, discuss it more at that time.\" (Presiding Judge)

Ending: The motion remains pending. The state must file a narrower indictment amendment within the week specified by the court, after which the defense can renew its challenge if it believes the amendment remains insufficient.","At a lengthy hearing in the 252nd District Court, the judge kept defense counsel’s motion to quash an indictment in the case of James Rucker open and instructed prosecutors to amend the charging language to make the alleged statutory violation more specific.","actionData","errors"]

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252nd District Court session: pleas, deferred probations, dismissals and trial settings

Judge holds motion to quash open, orders state to narrow indictment in James Rucker hazardous-waste case