Judge revokes probation, sentences Austin Michael Young to three years after repeated violations and missed drug tests

Judge Stephanie Boyd of the 187th District Court revoked the probation of Austin Michael Young (case 20221449) and sentenced him to three years in prison after the state urged revocation for repeated violations of a probation condition that required drug testing.

The judge also ordered credit for any time Young has served, a two-year driver’s-license suspension, a $1,500 fine, and directed that time and fines run concurrent with other sentences; the court noted the defendant could receive credit for successful completion of inpatient treatment. Defense counsel argued for alternatives and treatment instead of revocation; the state urged the court to revoke.

The outcome matters because the court weighed treatment options against a record of missed tests and failures to appear, and concluded the court’s available sanctions had been exhausted.

At a hearing called for case 20221449, defense attorney Luis Martinez told the court that Young had complied with many supervision conditions and asked the judge to consider a sanction other than revocation and placement in a cognitive-skills track or therapeutic community. Martinez said Young had taken steps such as staying on an alcohol monitor and not driving, and emphasized supervision’s structure could help him succeed.

The state replied that Young had a history of failing to take accountability, citing missed drug tests and failures to appear on 09/12 and 09/23; the prosecutor asked the court to grant the state’s recommendation to revoke probation. The court accepted the state’s recommendation and pronounced the sentence described above.

Wendy Scholamer, Young’s mother, testified about a recent period in May when she said her son showed signs of a mental-health crisis, including withdrawal, lack of sleep and appetite, and agitation that prompted ER visits. Scholamer told the court medical staff at two local emergency departments gave him medication (including Ativan) but that he was not admitted to a psychiatric facility; she recounted hospital staff saying they lacked psychiatric beds and that an ambulance transfer to a specialty facility was discussed but not completed because Young refused. Scholamer summarized her son’s repeated reassurance to her, saying he would tell her, “I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine.”

Young addressed the court and said he believed he had completed his probation requirements and classes and that a monitoring device loss and inability to pay about $3,500 contributed to his recent violation. The court recorded that Young had previously pled true to a violation of condition number two and that the court had imposed conditions intended to address the violation; the judge said similar violations had occurred again and concluded there were no additional tools available to keep Young in the community under supervision.

Discussion: The defense pressed for treatment and employment-focused supports, saying work and structure reduce noncompliance; the state pressed for accountability and revocation based on the pattern of missed tests and failures to appear. Decision: The court revoked probation and imposed the prison sentence and ancillary sanctions described above.

Clarifying details in the record: the case was identified as 20221449; the specific probation condition referenced was “condition number 2” (drug testing); the court pronounced a three-year prison sentence, a two-year license suspension, and a $1,500 fine; the defendant claimed he could not pay about $3,500 for monitoring, which contributed to the violation (as stated in court).