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District attorney seeks staff and investigator vehicles after clearing backlog and expanding prosecutions
Summary
Criminal District Attorney Josh Teaton presented courtroom statistics and requested two investigator vehicles and a felony prosecutor position. He said the office moved most of a previously large murder backlog, secured convictions in numerous trials and reduced jail costs, and argued staffing is needed to sustain performance.
Criminal District Attorney Josh Teaton asked the commissioners to consider two Chevrolet Traverse vehicles for investigators and to approve an additional felony prosecutor position to keep pace with caseload and courtroom demand.
Teaton said the office used asset‑forfeiture funds to make older donated vehicles drivable and requested two new vehicles to build a healthier fleet over time. Investigators use vehicles for subpoenas, witness location, attorney transport and occasional out‑of‑county trips; Teaton provided three‑month use figures showing vehicles driving up to an average of about 800 miles per month for some units. He said investigator vehicles are not for pursuits and require fewer patrol‑grade features.
On staffing, Teaton reviewed metrics: when he took office the district had a backlog of about 60 pending murder matters; most of those have been resolved and only four of the original 60 remain pending. The office tried 12 murder or capital‑murder defendants since 2023, with convictions and lengthy sentences; he estimated jail savings of about $750,000 from moving cases through the system. Teaton said McLennan County prosecutors have the highest caseload per prosecutor among eight comparable counties and asked for a felony prosecutor to preserve the prosecution pace and reduce caseload pressure.
Why it matters: The DA framed the requests as investments to sustain successful prosecution outcomes and to preserve savings from reduced pretrial detention. Commissioners and staff discussed prioritizing positions and vehicles given countywide budget constraints.
What’s next: The DA’s requests are included in FY‑26 capital and personnel considerations; commissioners asked staff to hold requests for review alongside other departments and capital projects.
