Court processes calendar: pleas, resets and a three-year sentence handed down

The 252nd District Court processed a wide docket of initial appearances, plea agreements and administrative resets on Monday.

Judge presided over multiple short appearances in which defendants were asked whether they had hired counsel and were given roughly 30 days to retain private lawyers or, if necessary, to complete paperwork for court-appointed counsel. Several defendants were specifically ordered to consult with at least three attorneys and to bring the names of attorneys they contacted to the next hearing.

The court accepted a guilty plea from Richard Couch to driving while intoxicated (third or more) and, following the parties’ recommendation, sentenced him to three years in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Corrections. The judge also handed Couch written admonishments about firearm-possession ineligibility after conviction.

Other calendar dispositions included pleas and resets: Jaylen Eli pleaded guilty to forgery and was given a five-year deferred-probation agreement with restitution to be determined; Jacordian Gillery admitted certain probation-violation counts and the court set further proceedings for revocation scheduling; multiple bonds were raised or set for forfeiture for defendants who failed to appear (examples noted on the record included bond adjustments to $150,000 and resets to $100,000 where applicable).

Throughout the calendar the judge repeatedly reminded defendants of the risk of bond increases for failing to follow court orders and of the need to stay in contact with bondsmen and counsel. Defendants ordered to appear for paperwork were directed to the clerk to complete forms that would inform eligibility for appointed counsel.