Articles/News

Inc. Magazine recently interviewed J.J. on how a Private Investigator could obtain intelligence on competitors for businesses.  The article is supposed to run in the April, 2011 issue.  Inc. must be serious because they asked for a photograph of J.J. to run with the interview. 

Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association

J.J. will be the Guest Speaker on June 15, 2011.  The subject “How to Get Everything You Need for Trial or Dismissal in Harris County.”

Death Penalty Trial in Galveston

Robert Loper and Gerald Bourque are currently in Jury Selection for the Death Penalty Trial in Galveston County in Judge Ellisor’s Court in which a Defendant, Travis Mullis, is charged with killing his infant child on the Seawall in 2008. 

The Trial and Punishment phase will be full of emotion and highly publicized. 

Bellville Murder

Kathryn Scardino and James Rivera represent one of the four family members charged with the attempted Kidnapping and Murder of Dr. Gonzalez, a Houston area doctor, at his ranch in Bellville, which occurred in August of 2009. 

The District Attorney has just announced that he will not seek the Death Penalty on any of the four Defendants.  Our client, Noel Cerna, a ranch hand of Dr. Gonzalez is accused of being the mastermind of the aborted Kidnapping scheme.  Cerna, who was shot during the attempted abduction, has claimed his innocence since day one.  We are in the process of preparing our defense for the upcoming Trial. 

Bellville Family Murder

Kathryn Scardino and James Rivera represent Maron Thomas, charged with killing five family members at their residence in Bellville.  Thomas was originally deemed insane and sent to the State Hospital.  After a few months of treatment in the form of medication, Thomas was sent back for Trial.

We are awaiting the District Attorney’s decision as to whether to seek the Death Penalty.  In the meantime, we are preparing a Mitigation package from all of the family members not wanting to see Thomas receive the Death Penalty.

Galveston County Acquittal

Kelly Case was in the middle of a Trial in Galveston County, which was abruptly dismissed after a witness, located by George Wellmaker, spoke to the Prosecutor, giving information that caused the case to be dismissed.

Hit and Run Investigation

The wife of an individual who was killed racing his Corvette in Montgomery County, hired our firm in order to obtain some closure in the case.  Our client’s husband was racing a yellow Mustang in his Corvette convertible when the two vehicles came to a junction, where the road narrowed from two lanes to one.  Our client’s husband’s car was forced to the curb by the yellow Mustang, causing the car to flip.  Our client’s husband was thrown from the car and killed.  The yellow Mustang came to a stop, the driver looked at the body and then sped off. 

Our client was very unhappy with the DPS investigation of the accident and hired our firm to see if we could identify the driver of the yellow Mustang.  Benito Segura has conducted interviews with witnesses and has possibly identified the suspect.  Hopefully, we will be able to complete this investigation and get the suspect charged in the very near future.  We will keep you posted on our results. 

River Oaks Kidnapping

Patti Sedita is defending Clayton Haulsey, who is charged with attempting to kidnap a River Oaks housewife as she took her morning walk.

The Police Investigation identified four suspects although witnesses at the scene told the Police, they only saw two Abductors.  The two main suspects, who informed girlfriends they had to flee to Mexico to avoid being captured have still never been charged.  The Police case against Haulsey involves his DNA being present in the rental car used in the Abduction attempt and a very tentative identification by the victim.  Haulsey has denied his involvement in the crime. 

On Friday, February 18, 2011, the Trial was stopped and reset for March 15, 2011, when it was learned the Investigating Homicide Detective, who had obtained the identification of Haulsey had withheld witness interviews he had conducted during the course of his investigation, including one with the victim.  We are now looking into all the facts surrounding that situation. 

Capital Death Re-Trial

Casey Kiernan and Phillip Scardino represent Carl Wayne Buntion, who was charged with shooting Houston Police Officer Carl Irby over twenty years ago.  Buntion was found Guilty and given the Death Penalty. 

Buntion has been on Death Row for over twenty years.  The punishment was reversed and Buntion is facing a new Trial, which will result in either a second Death Penalty or Life in prison. 

Jury Selection will start in the beginning of March, in what is expected to be a highly publicized Trial.  We have been diligently involved in helping the attorneys prepare the Mitigation evidence for the Defendant receiving a Life Sentence.

Death Row Inmate Coming Back for New Hearing

Our firm has been involved in the investigation of Prosecutorial Misconduct in the conviction of Ron Prible, charged in the “Cold Case Murder” of Prible’s friend, wife and children.  The Murders occurred in 1989, when Steve Hernandez was shot to death at his house.  The house was then set on fire, causing the death of his wife and children. 

Our investigation has revealed that the witness who testified in the 2002 Trial, that Prible confessed to him about the Murders may have done so to receive consideration for his prison sentence.  Based on the weight of our evidence the Appellate Court has sent the case back for a new Hearing.  A successful result in this case could also effect the status of two other Death Row inmates and an individual who received a Life sentence for Capital Murder.  The case is a great example of never giving up and following the leads to their fullest conclusion.  More to come in the next 90 days on this one.