Piney Woods Justice

In a heated Republican race for the spot on the bench of the 159th District Court in Angelina County, Texas, you heard me interview Al Charanza. Now it's turn for his opponent, Todd Kassaw to tell you why he's the better choice! Make no mistake, they are both good men. However, they do come from different legal backgrounds. Mr. Charanza started his career in the JAG in the marines. Mr. Kassaw was a well-respected personal injury lawyer. Where they don't cla...

A hot election is taking place in Angelina County to replace Paul White as the District Judge of the 159th District Court. The position presides over felony cases in the county including the worst of the worst - murder trials, as well as civil cases involving millions of dollars! Two men, both of upstanding moral turpitude and active contributors in the local community, are vying for the position. First we interview Al Charanza, a noted criminal defense attorney who has also...

Kevin Dutton shares the rewards and challenges of presiding as District Attorney over two east Texas counties, San Augustine and Sabine on the shores of Lake Sam Rayburn. From a tiny office run on a meager budget to a full- blown department, he shares some of the growing pains he's experienced over the years, including the effects two years of COVID have had on crime in his communities. This candid interview occurred literally as we stepped out of the courtroom during our lunch br...

Through childhood sexual abuse to a step-dad who suffered a broken back working offshore and then dying of brain cancer, Kayla May has lived through seemingly unsurmountable tragedies. By escaping through drugs and older men, she found herself once again the victim of domestic violence and facing felony criminal charges. Kayla May discovered her peace, sobriety and a renewed faith in her Savior, in the sweet mentoring ladies of the Christian Women's Job Core Mosaic Program, ...

Meet Sean Hightower. Sean was a member of the first graduating class of the brand new Texas A&M law school who came to practice law by way of a full ride debate scholarship to Stephen F. Austin State University which is where coincidentally (?) he returned to practice law with his long-time mentor, Tim James. The majority of his cases are first time DWIs with the college students. He learned passing out koozies at the tailgate parties on campus boosted his business! ...

An old soul who's seen it all, Chinta Spikes doesn't sugarcoat her tale of early childhood abuse from her mother, including beatings with an extension cord that made her bleed. She went on to be involved in several marriages that only led to more abuse for her and her children. A mixture of crack, alcohol and marijuana took her down a dead end path of lying, cheating and even stealing from her own children until one day, soaked in urine with a knife at her throat, she begged God t...

Every defense attorney longs for that glory moment when he's cross-examining a key witness for the State, who admits on the stand, "Yes, I lied. I made it up 'cause I'm crazy!" and your client goes free! Jim shares these moments and many more. (He calls them "Matlock experiences) Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. That's when criminal law can prove very entertaining.He also reveals those cases, dear to his heart, that keep him going, loving his profess...

Brent Tanksley shares his own recovery journey as we explore the psychology of addiction. Brent is a well known substance abuse counselor, or as he likes to put it, a substance use disorder, counselor. He has worked with agencies such as the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of East Texas, which covers several counties. He has worked at the Cypress Residential Treatment Center in Woodville, TX, Brent opened his own men's sober house in Lufkin, TX, and is currently the Pro...

March 2020 Valeria, a 54 year old mentally ill African-American who pleads guilty to aggregated theft of over 1.3 million, is sentenced in Conroe, TX to 70 years in the Texas State Penitentiary. But was she really guilty? Due to repeated, heated arguments with her second attorney on the case, she desperately changed her plea to guilty the day before jury selection. The arguments continue as she files two grievances against him and he files two Motions to Withdraw. It's...

This Episode I answered Kristy Waters' question about how to change a statute regarding liquor laws in her town of Lufkin, TX.What authority does the Federal Govt. have over Texas liquor laws?Why are so many counties in Texas different regarding their alcohol statutes?How can a regular citizen get a law changed?I also explain the meaning of commonly confused legal terms for someone charged with their first felony; words like: "Indicted" "Arraignment" "Discovery" "Voir Dire" and de...