252nd District Court resets dozens of criminal cases; several defendants placed on probation
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Summary
The presiding judge in the 252nd District Court reset most cases for about 30 days, ordered defendants who bonded out to consult attorneys, and imposed probation and restitution in several matters, including deferred adjudication for three defendants.
The presiding judge of the 252nd District Court handled a crowded criminal docket on Oct. 12, 2025, resetting most cases for roughly 30 days, ordering defendants who are out on bond to consult with lawyers and, in several matters, imposing probation terms and restitution.
The docket produced three formal deferred-adjudication sentences: Ronnie Fontenot was placed on five years of probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine following a guilty plea to possession of a prohibited weapon; JC Musgrove was placed on three years of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine after pleading guilty to abandoning or endangering a child; and Jairo Rodriguez was placed on five years of probation with restitution orders totaling $26,175.59 (a $688.96 payment to a victim and $25,486.63 to an insurance carrier) following a guilty plea to collision involving injury.
The court repeatedly told defendants who had bonded out that they should attempt to hire private counsel and, if they could not, to visit with at least three lawyers before the next court date. “If you’re unable to hire someone before that next court date, then I’m ordering you to visit with at least 3 lawyers,” the presiding judge said during calendar calls that accompanied repeated 30-day resets.
Other notable orders included a bond-condition modification for one defendant: the judge directed that Dustin Drake not drive any vehicle unless the vehicle is equipped with an automatic ignition interlock device as a condition of bond while his driving-while-intoxicated case remains pending.
The court also granted a longer reset and monitoring plan for a defendant enrolled in veteran-support treatment. James Rhodes was allowed to continue in a veterans court program; the judge reset his matter 90 days to allow the program to establish services and to permit counsel to file a request removing an active GPS condition if the program shows progress.
Several cases were explicitly set for trial or had plea rejections recorded. Jason Anthony Harris signed a plea-bargain rejection and the judge advised him that after that appearance the court would not accept a plea offer without new information; his case is set for trial. The court also recorded a recalled bond forfeiture for Junia (Jania) Brewer and warned she would face a final reset if she could not hire counsel.
The presiding judge explained the practical consequences of probation in open court when imposing deferred-adjudication sentences: completion of probation would allow dismissal of the underlying felony charge, but violations could lead to revocation and exposure to the statutory sentencing ranges discussed on the record. “If you do everything you’re supposed to while you’re on this probation, it’s an excellent opportunity because you don’t have a felony conviction on your record,” the presiding judge said to one defendant who received probation. The judge also warned defendants that failing court orders to seek counsel could prompt an increase in bond and remand to custody.
Most calendar matters involved defense counsel and the district attorney reporting that discovery, video, or other information remained under review; the court frequently offered short resets (about 30 days) to allow counsel time to review materials, coordinate offers or probation paperwork, and, in some cases, obtain affidavits the state requested before presenting plea offers.
The court instructed defendants to bring documentation when relevant—examples on the record included proof of Social Security disability for one defendant seeking a court-appointed attorney and documentation of a pending tax refund for another who said he planned to use that money to hire counsel.
The docket included multiple administrative notations by defense counsel and the state about discovery, additional offers and coordination with other matters (including pending federal involvement in a related case). Where the record showed imminent or final offers, the judge granted short (three-week) resets and, where treatment programs or victim restitution arrangements were pending, ordered firm follow-ups at the next scheduled appearance.
The court’s calendar and the orders entered will govern the next steps in dozens of pending criminal cases, including trial scheduling, probation reporting, and the filing of documents needed to remove or modify pretrial conditions such as GPS monitoring or ignition interlock requirements.
