Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Brian Encinia’s arraignment on a perjury charge related to his arrest of Sandra Bland will be held in March, the Waller County District Clerk’s office confirmed.
Johnathan Silver
Johnathan Silver reported on the state’s criminal justice system for the Tribune from 2015 to 2017. Previously, Johnathan was a Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Buster Haas intern and staff reporter at the Victoria Advocate. A Fort Worth native, Johnathan graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with bachelor’s degrees in political science and criminal justice – and a graduation mug from The Shorthorn, the campus student newspaper.
Posted inState Government
Texas Led Nation in 2015 Exonerations, Report Finds
A record number of people wrongly convicted of crimes were exonerated in 2015, with 42 wrongful convictions in Harris County drug cases boosting the nationwide tally to 149.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Police Group Upset After DPS Director Says Cops Should “Just Take” Being Spit At
When asked about escalations with law enforcement, Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said last week that officers need to respond professionally and added, “Anybody that’s been spit at … you just take it.”
Posted in
Politics
Attorney General Says Fantasy Sports Sites Involve Illegal Gambling
While placing bets in fantasy sports leagues may involve skill, there is still an element of chance that would equate such leagues with illegal gambling in Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a nonbinding opinion released Tuesday.
Posted inState Government
DPS Director: Sandra Bland Escalation Trooper’s Fault
Texas Department of Public Safety director Steve McCraw said Tuesday that Trooper Brian Encinia acted unprofessionally and violated protocol when he stopped Sandra Bland.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Sandra Bland’s Mom Wants FBI to Hand Over Records
The mother of Sandra Bland, the young black woman found hanged in a Waller County jail following a traffic stop, has asked a federal judge for help getting the FBI to turn over details of her daughter’s arrest and death.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
DPS, Trooper Move to Halt Lawsuit by Sandra Bland’s Family
The Texas Department of Public Safety and indicted trooper Brian Encinia want a federal judge to let the officer’s criminal case in Waller County play out before moving forward with a lawsuit filed by Sandra Bland’s mother.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Trooper in Sandra Bland Case Plans to Appeal Firing
Department of Public Safety Trooper Brian Encinia will appeal his firing and disputes the allegation that he perjured himself in regards to his report on arresting Sandra Bland, his attorney told The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Indicted Trooper Surrenders, Will Plead Not Guilty
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Brian Encinia, indicted Wednesday on a perjury charge related to his arrest of Sandra Bland, surrendered to Texas Rangers Thursday afternoon and was taken to the Waller County Jail.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Trooper Indicted in Sandra Bland Case
A grand jury did not believe Department of Public Safety trooper Brian Encinia was telling the truth about his actions during his arrest of Sandra Bland, who died three days later in a Waller County jail cell.
