Audrey Gossett Louis, 81st Judicial District Attorney

08/25/2026

While we often use this page to share press releases about those who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law in our district, today we set those matters aside and join our nation in mourning the loss of a true American treasure, Dolly Parton.

Dolly spent her life bringing joy to others—not only through her music, but through her faith, generosity, humility, and remarkable heart for helping people. From songs that told the stories of everyday Americans to her lifelong commitment to children and literacy, she leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond the stage.

Some people are remembered for what they accomplished. Others are remembered for how they made people feel. Dolly Parton will be remembered for both.

Our prayers are with her family, her friends, and the countless people whose lives were made a little brighter because she was here.

May she rest in peace.

Dolly Parton, the beloved music and film star known for her vibrant personality and poignant songwriting, has died. She was 80 years old.

08/25/2026

This is position is a valuable part of the Border Prosecution Unit that brings great resources to our district.

BPU Director of Training Job Description August 2026 Qualifications: Key Responsibilities Compensation & Structure Term Start Date: September 15, 2026, or as soon as practicable thereafter Special…

07/30/2026

Former Stockdale ISD Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Improper Relationship with Student

ISD teacher Peter Aaron Leach has been sentenced to 13 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice following his convictions for offenses involving a student.

Leach waived his right to a jury trial and entered pleas of no contest to the second-degree felony offenses of Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student and Indecency with a Child by Contact, with an agreed punishment cap of 15 years' imprisonment. He also entered open pleas to the offenses of Child Grooming and Tampering with Physical Evidence, which carry a punishment range of 2 to 10 years in prison, leaving punishment on those charges to the Court.

After hearing testimony from the victim, reviewing the S*x Offender Evaluation, considering testimony from the defendant's own s*x offender treatment counselor, and examining the comprehensive presentence investigation prepared by Community Supervision Officer Taylor Harbour, the Court sentenced Leach to 13 years in prison for the Improper Student/Teacher Relationship and Indecency, and 10 years on the Child Grooming and Tampering with Physical Evidence convictions. The sentences will run concurrently.

Our office requested that the Court impose the maximum 15-year sentence permitted under the plea agreement. The defense requested deferred adjudication community supervision.

As stated in the S*x Offender Evaluation, "Peter Aaron Leach single-handedly assisted in destroying the trust of students, faculty, families, and the public in the teaching community." That assessment reflects the profound harm caused not only to the victim, but also to the confidence families place in those entrusted with educating and protecting children.

Cases involving the exploitation of students by educators represent a profound breach of trust. Our office remains committed to holding offenders accountable and ensuring that those who prey on children face meaningful consequences.

We are grateful to the victim for the courage it took to come forward and testify.

We extend our appreciation to Investigator Daria Fowler of the Wilson County Sheriff's Office for her diligent investigation, Community Supervision Officer Taylor Harbour for preparing a thorough presentence investigation, and Assistant District Attorney Lorena Whitney, a former educator, whose dedication and advocacy helped secure justice for the victim and protect other students from being targeted.

07/24/2026

WILSON COUNTY JURY SENTENCES ROBERT NICHOLS TO 15 YEARS FOR ADULT SEXUAL ASSAULT Late Wednesday evening, a Wilson County jury found Robert Nichols guilty of three counts of S*xual Assault, a second-degree felony, which carries a range of punishment from 2 to 20 years in prison. After hearing the evidence, the jury sentenced the defendant to 15 years in prison on each count. At the time of this crime, the law did not allow the judge to stack the sentences for adult s*xual assaults. This means the defendant must only serve at least 7.5 years in prison before becoming parole eligible.

During the trial, the jury heard the courageous testimony of the victim, who was 17 years old at the time of the offense, who shared the graphic details of the s*xual assault by her biological father - making this crime an especially heartbreaking betrayal of trust by someone who should have been a source of safety and protection.

While this case does not do justice to the victim in terms of the sentence, we are grateful to the jury for their service and assuring the victim she was supported and believed.

This case involved the collaboration among the many dedicated professionals - Sgt. Joseph Martinez and Investigator Dan Small with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office for his thorough investigation; Jennifer Trevino, Forensic Scientist for DPS Corpus Christi Crime Lab, who testified as to the defendant’s DNA found on victim; the Assistant District Attorneys Marc Ledet and Lorena Whitney for their exceptional work in the courtroom; our legal assistants for their invaluable support throughout the case; Victim Advocate Katie Quinney for standing with and supporting the victim; Analyst Karen Dziuk for her evidence and witness coordination; S*xual Assault Nurse Examiner Melissa Gonzales for her compassionate and professional care.

We are grateful for the unwavering courage of our victim who never faltered. She was willing to confront the person who harmed her, her own father, testify in open court, and endure rigorous cross-examination in pursuit of accountability. While the sentence is less than he deserved, it is the fault of the law (which was fixed for crimes after 2025) not our courageous victim. She and others like her will continue to be supported by our committed team determined to seek justice.

07/17/2026

FRIO COUNTY JURY SENTENCES ROY BLACK, JR. to 99 YEARS FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Yesterday, a Frio County jury found Roy Black, Jr. guilty of three counts of aggravated s*xual assault of a child under the age of 14 and sentenced him to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count.

Mr. Black confessed to two of the three offenses. After hearing from two child victims and other witnesses testify, the jury found him guilty on all three counts.

Mr. Black was well regarded among community members and his church, all while s*xually abusing small children. A great example that predators come from every background and walk of life. A reminder that allegations of abuse should be taken seriously.

The jury’s sentence reflects the courage of the victims who came forward to report the abuse and testify at trial. Their bravery ensured this defendant was held accountable and the jury sent a clear message to other victims: when you come forward, you will be heard, supported, and justice will be pursued.

I am so proud of the work of First Assistant Leslie Carranza, Asst. DA Kenny Lam, Analyst Karen Dziuk, Victim Advocate, Katie Quinney, our legal assistants, Pearsall PD Det. Rey Dominguez, Children’s Alliance of South Texas, Forensic Interviewer Angela Perez, S*xual Assault Nurse Examiner Cynthia Garcia, and Child Abuse Pediatrician Dr. James Lukefahr.

This is an excellent example of the work that goes into investigating and prosecuting child molesters and abusers. I am most proud of the jury for protecting their community from this predator and standing up for the victims.

Mr. Black, 80, must serve at least 30 years before becoming eligible for parole.

07/04/2026

07/02/2026

La Salle County: Judge Sentences Defendant to 8 Years in Prison for Human Smuggling

On June 17, 2026, the Honorable Judge Jennifer Dillingham sentenced Jesus Garcia, Jr., 53, to 8 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Institutional Division for the offense of Smuggling of Persons.

The defendant pleaded guilty on April 23, 2026, and elected to have the Court assess punishment.

Case Background:

On November 30, 2023, officers with the Encinal Police Department observed a Ford F-150 traveling northbound commit a traffic violation. After initiating a traffic stop, officers discovered the defendant had disguised the vehicle as an oil field utility truck by displaying a fictitious fleet number.

During the investigation, officers located seven undocumented individuals concealed inside the vehicle, including a 14-year-old female who was traveling without any relatives present. During a Mirandized interview, the defendant admitted he was being paid to smuggle the individuals.

At sentencing, the defendant testified that he had been under the influence of Xanax, "blacked out" while driving, and claimed he did not remember picking up the undocumented individuals.

The defendant also had a prior federal conviction out of Laredo for Conspiracy to Transport Undocumented Aliens Within the United States and had previously served a federal prison sentence.

A special thank you to Border Prosecution Unit ADA Catherine Schneider, and Encinal Police Department Officer Natalie Joliet for her investigation and dedication to this case. We also recognize Community Supervision Officer Lara Tristan for preparing a thorough Presentence Investigation (PSI) report that assisted the Court in determining the sentence.

07/02/2026

La Salle County - Defendant Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Human Smuggling

On June 17, 2026, the Honorable Judge Jennifer Dillingham sentenced Israel Salas, 22, to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Institutional Division for the offense of Smuggling of Persons Likelihood of Serious Bodily Injury or Death.

The defendant pleaded guilty on April 23, 2026, and elected to have the Court assess punishment.

Case Background

On August 3, 2024, Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers were notified by U.S. Border Patrol to be on the lookout for a vehicle traveling northbound on IH-35 that had refused to stop for an immigration inspection at the Laredo checkpoint. The vehicle subsequently evaded Border Patrol near the 32-mile marker.

Texas DPS Troopers located the suspect vehicle near the 58-mile marker, matching the description and license plate provided, while it was traveling on the improved shoulder of the roadway. After Troopers activated their emergency lights, the driver fled, reaching speeds of approximately 80 miles per hour for several miles before being stopped.

During the investigation, law enforcement discovered 11 undocumented individuals from Guatemala and Mexico concealed inside the vehicle. Several of the occupants were hidden beneath orange traffic barrels in the bed of the truck, creating an extremely dangerous situation that placed their lives at risk.

A special thank you to Texas DPS Trooper Ruben Garza for his outstanding investigation and professionalism throughout this case. We also recognize Community Supervision Officer Andrew Flores, who prepared a thorough Presentence Investigation (PSI) report that assisted the Court in reaching an informed sentencing decision, and Border Prosecution Unit (BPU) Asst. DA Catherine Schneider for her professionalism in prosecuting the case.

Human smuggling is not a victimless crime. The District Attorney's Office remains committed to holding human smugglers accountable and protecting the safety of our communities.

06/30/2026

Yesterday in Karnes County, Judge Russell Wilson sentenced Ryan Aguilar to 20 years in prison for Intoxication Assault of a Peace Officer.

On August the 22nd, 2024, around 4 PM, the defendant pulled out of 5D Steakhouse and struck a Karnes County Patrol Deputy driving on Highway 181. The deputy suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash. The defendant also suffered serious injuries and was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center. While at the hospital, it was discovered that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol and had a blood alcohol concentration of .211, nearly 3 times the legal limit. The Department of Public Safety, in their investigation, discovered that the defendant had gone to the restaurant with 3 co-workers, where combined they ordered 8 beers and 18 shots of alcohol. The defendant did not have a driver’s license and was not eligible for one.

During the sentencing hearing, despite a guilty plea, the defendant stated, “I never hit a cop; I was the one who got hit” and “this was truly an accident; if it was my fault or his, we will never know”. After hearing the evidence, the Judge rejected the defendant’s application for probation or a lower sentence and sentenced him to the maximum under the plea bargain of 20 years. Thank you to Asst. District Attorney Ryan Wright for seeking justice in this case, DPS Trooper Jesus Barajas for his investigation, and Adult Probation Officer D’Lila Gonzales for her work on the pre-sentence investigation.

Driving while intoxicated doesn't just endanger law enforcement officers—it puts every innocent driver and family sharing our roads at risk. This crash happened on busy Highway 181 in the middle of the afternoon, when countless people were traveling that roadway. Choosing to drive impaired is a decision that can change lives forever, and we will continue to hold offenders accountable.