Judge Raquel West EXPOSES Defendant’s Secret Jail Call: "I Want to Be Chief!"

Good morning. Are you Jonah Ray Johnson? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And this is 25 DCCR 1775. Mr. Johnson is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. And Mr. Basquez has filed a motion asking that I reduce Mr. Johnson's bond, which is currently set at $300,000 in that case. Um, are you calling your client? Yes, your honor. >> Mr. Johnson, best you can raise your right. >> Oh, no. I'm sorry. I'm not I'm calling my client's mom, Jacqueline. Um, Brousard. >> Miss Brousard. Mr. uh Johnson, if you'll just come around just to the side right there on the corner. >> Ma'am, if you'll come right over here, please. >> Good morning. >> And would you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're going to give in this hearing will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes. >> Thank you. You may proceed. >> Thank you, John. Um, Miss Bruce W. State your name for the record, please. >> Jacqueline Bruce. Sorry. >> And you've done this before, haven't you? >> Yes, ma'am. Oh, sir. I'm sorry. >> And you're John's mom, correct? >> Yes. >> And the original bond back in September was $150,000. Isn't that correct? >> Yes, sir. And what was what went wrong? What was the problem there? Um the ankle monitor we thought it was broken which that was we was lit that was you know we called uh Johnny and Johnny told us to come in which we had been talking with Johnny for two weeks but like I say Johnny said come in and something was going on with the monitor and we also was a payment behind >> okay >> and but we I'm sorry go ahead that's all right the uh the bondsman said the defendant has failed to pay for the GPS device. It wasn't charged. He will not respond to shy's attempt to reach him. He cannot be located. Shy feels like his bond is at risk. Now, you disagree with that, right? >> Yes, sir. >> The bomb was never at risk. >> No, sir. >> Janna lives with you? >> Yes, sir. >> You live in Bulmont? >> Yes, sir. >> With your husband? >> Yes, sir. >> And how many people live in that house? Uh me, my husband, my oldest son, and Jonah. >> And how long have you been in that home? >> Over five years. >> And the four of you lived there? >> Yes, sir. >> Was Jonah working when all this happened? >> Yes, sir. >> Where was he working? >> He was working for uh Jefferson next. >> Say it again. >> Jefferson. Jefferson. >> What was he doing? >> He was working in the kitchen. >> And how long did he have that job? You recall? Uh I think he had just received that one over there about five maybe 6 months. I don't know. Yeah. Cuz he just got hired out over there. >> And he's 18. >> Yes. >> He lives with you. He's not Is he a flight risk? >> No, sir. He's not. >> Are you worried about him taking off or running off? >> No, sir. I'm not. >> And you wouldn't waste your money if you >> No, sir. >> What bonds have you talked to? I had talked to professional with Kenya and I had also with Lisa. >> Which bondsman was this back in September? >> I think that was Ellen. >> That was Ella. >> Uhhuh. >> Is that who you're talking to now? >> Um, yes. One of them. Yes. >> And what have your conversations been like with them? >> Um, they just ready for me to get in touch with them, see if they're going to be reduced. I just had one text this morning. Have you talked to them about what amount you would want it you that you're trying to get it reduced to? Um >> what would be reasonable? >> At least 100,000. We had talked on that. >> Well, it was 150,000 back then. >> Yes, sir. >> So, it's not really realistic that they're that the court would drop to 100,000 now. >> Mhm. >> Uh are you asking the court to to reinstate the I don't know reinstate the correct word, but to go back to the $150,000. Yes, sir. Is that something you think you could work with? >> Yes, sir. >> They want They probably want you to sign a contract for $15,000. >> Yes, sir. >> I think 10%. Yes, sir. >> Would you make sure there was no discrepancies or mistakes or misunderstandings about the GPS monitor? >> Yes, sir. And what else would you like to tell the judge about the bond? >> We we are ready to make fun. >> Have you seen the video in this case? >> Yes, ma'am. Okay. I have talked to my son. Yes. Yes, ma'am. >> You've actually seen it? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> The whole video. >> Okay. Anything else? Nothing else. That was actually one of my questions I was going to ask this witness as whether or not she's seen the video. Judge, uh, in addition to that, uh, uh, Miss Brousard, are you aware that your son the last five years has been arrested for nine different offenses? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Are you aware that in the last five years, your son has been arrested for nine separate offenses? >> Nine? >> Yes, ma'am. uh evading arrest as a juvenile, UUMV uh as a an adult, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful carry of a firearm, failed to ID, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and two additional uh uh unauthorized carrying of a weapon. Were you aware of those arrests? >> Yes. >> Okay. Now, the gun that your son allegedly carried back on August the 31st of 2025, uh, during that shootout at the Pine Club Apartments, do you have any idea where he got that gun from? >> Um, no, sir. >> Are you aware that a bystander was shot during that melee? >> Um, yes, sir. >> All right, that's all I have, Ch. >> Okay. Any other questions of this witness? >> No. >> Thank you, ma'am. You can have a seat. >> Thank you, ma'am. Yes, sir. Any other witnesses? Mr. Vasquez? >> No. >> Mr. Pullman. >> Judge. One of the the items of evidence that I plan on introducing was the video from the shootout, but it sounds like the court vividly remembers that. So, if the court doesn't want wish to see that again, I I wonder >> um I I mean I let's just quickly play it. I want to rem I'm refreshing my memory by taking Well, first of all, I'm going to take judicial notice of the court's file. I have reviewed the problem cause affidavit which is what reminded me of the facts of the case and I guess it was the other >> it was the case that we had a bond hearing on. Is that correct? >> Well, no I take it back. It was this defendant when he was represented by Britney Holmes if I'm not mistake. >> So I've so so I've had a bond hearing watch the video on this case. >> Yes, judge if I'm not mistaken. In fact, you look at my notes, um, that would have been January 13th of 2026. My notes in include uh that there's a defense motion to reduce the bond. Uh, we argue there you you you heard evidence and testimony and that you denied the motion back in January of this year. >> So, this was after the AFRS and The bond was at 300,000 on that date for the same bond hearing. >> Yes, judge. >> I've already I don't Yeah, >> your motion's denied. I've already heard all the evidence there. >> There is something, Judge. I think that it's at least if you're going to deny it. I think you may want to consider it as far as whether or not the bond is sufficient as it states. It's just a fivem minute clip of a uh jail phone call that I've added subtitles to. If if I if I could uh do that, I'm happy to bring my sponsor witness, but if you'll stipulate to it. >> No, I'm going to object to it for to relevant. >> Bring your witness, please. >> Yeah. Uh state calls Captain Michael Pel. >> Good morning, sir. >> Morning. >> Thank you for your patience uh this morning. If you'll please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're going to give in this hearing will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Go ahead. >> Captain Ponder, would you state your full name for the record, please, sir? >> My name is Captain Michael Ponder. >> And uh Captain Ponder, very briefly, what do you do? What are your duties at the over at the jail? That's your performance. >> I'm the custodian of records for the Jefferson County Correction Facility. >> And and you're familiar as a custodian record with the recording equipment there at the jail. Correct. >> Yes, sir. >> And it's capable of making an accurate recording. >> Yes, sir. >> Uh and uh each in each inmate is issued a unique identifying number. Correct. >> Yes, sir. And that's one of the ways to identify who makes uh certainly falls from the jail. Correct. >> Yes, sir. >> Have you had an opportunity to review where I am marking? Judge, you want me to mark the states two or three? We entered one in the first hearing back in January. I can do one. However you want to do it. >> Um I think I mean it's technically a new hearing. >> Okay. I'll do one. >> One's fine. One's fine. >> All right. Uh you recognize this USB drive. Yes. >> How do you recognize it? >> Because I listened to it this morning. >> And are these your initials uh in today's date that's on the street we drive? >> Yes, sir. >> I'm marking it as state exhibit number one. You listen to it. Do you have any doubt that it's a fair and accurate copy uh of a jail phone call or recording of a telephone call made by an inmate? This inmate uh from the Jefferson County J. >> No. No doubt. >> All right. State off stateful. >> Mr. Vasquez. Um, how good morning sir. >> How long is this video? >> I'm sorry. The audio >> it's about a 5m minute excerpt from a 14 minute and 20 some second phone call. >> Well, so it's been altered. >> It's been included. Yes. >> I object to the alteration. Yeah. Judge, what's on here is the original 14-minute long video as well as the uh shortened five minute video with the subtitles added. So, the originals on here. >> Okay. >> And by the way, I gave it to Mr. Vosquez yesterday and he's had a chance to preview it. >> States one uh with all of the with both uh will be admitted. >> Permission to post it. >> Yes. >> Judge, may I finish my objection? >> Object to the alteration and then there's a transcription. I check to that is hearsay where you're you have a >> the subtitles >> the subtitles of what you think they're saying. >> Do you disagree that the subtitles are correct with what you hear? >> I don't know your honor. I just object to it it being hearsay. >> Why is it hearsay? though the subtitles are on it to what they're it's someone has written in what he what they've transcribed the conversation to to be object to that is hearsay >> Mr. judge if if if the audio is not hearsay which is a statement made by a party opponent then the subtitles are therefore not hearsay judge >> I obviously will be able to listen myself and um your objections overruled it's admitted >> permission to publish it >> yes and that's both the uh excerpt as well as the entire u and thank you captain ponder Just Come on. Report your monitor. report. [clears throat] He came back in sh like too much going on wild people went Crazy completely save people that [ __ ] type of [ __ ] all over it was cool. We just chill like [ __ ] good [ __ ] good like I'm good with one day just snap co said what [ __ ] get [ __ ] [ __ ] the [ __ ] computer he been ever since they came out I thought he do at least point for talking about you want to leave your your judge. Take my [ __ ] to tri my [ __ ] all my evidence and [ __ ] This [ __ ] [ __ ] bro like you good. You feel me? You give him time. I know it's going to take time cuz everything going on right now. They ain't making it no better. Like I say, they come they come even they come like this five year cap offation with a five cap. I take that. I want that [ __ ] Come on. You feel [ __ ] >> [clears throat] >> I did fly up and been around I stop the way some [ __ ] going to happen. Boom. You know, it was my first up to nobody just up. So I guess when I first came I came I come and go back to give a [ __ ] for you [clears throat] come out on top of my free robbation. That's what I'm talking about. They gave him they gave IS 3 months I he got 10 years probation after he was already on probation 10 years but him dude that got fight with >> all that state have no further. >> All right. Anything else? >> No your honor. >> Okay. So at this time I am going to deny the motion for a bond reduction and um I guess Mr. Coleman depending on any future incidents if the state wishes to file a motion to increase um I would look at that at the appropriate time. >> We have contemplated that >> but um Mr. Johnson, a condition still if you make that $300,000 bond is that you would be on house arrest. You would be required to wear GPS monitoring device at all times. Part of the reason um that I'm doing this um is because it sounds like you were working your parents have the issues. I've looked at the bond the affidavit for them to release shity. Um it's not just the um GPS monitoring device. they obviously were having a hard time getting in touch with you for whatever reason. So I think that makes obviously uh one of the criteria under 17.15 for bail is that obviously you have to follow all of the rules and conditions of bond which is with your bondsman as well. And so um we will reset your case for an announcement and Mr. Vasquez will uh visit with Mr. Coleman, get any offers in your case and we'll either uh take a plea if you wish to take a plea at the next court date or if you don't, we'll do a rejection and get your case set for trial. All right, you can go back with the baiff. >> Good morning. Are you Veronica Randall? >> Yes, you honor. >> And Miss Randall was previously in court and clause numbers 25 DCCR 0246 and 0247. entered a p uh entered p of guilty uh to theft of property with previous convictions, a state jail felony. Also entered p of true to prior uh convictions which enhanced this to a I believe secondderee felony uh for punishment purposes. The agreement was for a cap of six years in prison. I've received and reviewed that pre-sentence report. Have you all both had an opportunity to review that report? >> Yes, Sean. >> Yes, sir. Are there any additions or corrections to the report? >> All good. What you read? All accurate? >> No. No. No additions, >> which I don't have any additions or corrections. I would just uh state if it's the appropriate time for the court. When I look at it, I have some empathy for Miss Randall based on the comments that she made. But how much can we take her at her word with her criminal history? The court will recall you previously rejected four years in this case. I'll defer to whatever you think appropriate. Yeah. Judge. >> Um I also have taken judicial notice of the jail incident reports. You both should have copies of those. Um have you both had an opportunity to review those as well? >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> All right, Mr. Vasquez, you may proceed with argument. Y I know Miss Randle's had probation a couple of times in the past and it didn't work out for her, but I'm arguing for anything that does not involve incarceration. um ask the court to just probation with every every condition and and that the court thinks best would help her to put offending and in the in L of that I mean in any alternative you're not ask for something less than the six years if she's going to >> anything else, Miss Mo. >> I don't have any additional comments. I would just state that our agreement initially was to dismiss the new case because she already has the sequence felony prior that would enhance anything further. But if the court disagrees with that, we can about it after the sentence. >> So, Miss Randall, um I made some some notations um on this presentence report. uh some issues and maybe some mental health issues that um have contributed some issues in the past. However, there is nothing in here that makes me believe that any condition you may have is what requires or makes you go out and do what you've done literally since 1981. Your first theft that I have here um was from an arrest from 1981. Then I have one after another after another misdemeanor thefts through 2018. Then we've got starting in 1986 a robbery and a theft. And then we've got 13 felonies since then. These are your 14th, 15th, and I guess 16th felonies. At some point you you got to figure it out. There's there's opportunities when you are not incarcerated and not on probation to get the help that you need if that's what you think is the problem. I think the problem is you just like to go steal or rob because I mean we've got robbery, aggravated robbery, another robbery. It it's um anyway so um at this time in each of your cases I'm going to find that you entered your ple of guilty uh freely and voluntarily find that you also entered your ple of true to those prior convictions freely and voluntarily in cause number 25 DCCR0246 uh find sufficient evidence to find you guilty and at this time find you guilty of theft of property with previous convictions. Find the other previous convictions true. sentence you to a term of six years in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Corrections. You will receive credit on that sentence for any time that you've been in custody that the law gives you the right to receive. And cause number 25 DCCR0247. I'm also going to find sufficient evidence to find you guilty. Find those prior convictions true. Sentence you to a term of six years in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Corrections. You will also receive credit on that sentence for any time that you've been in custody that the law gives you the right to receive. These cases will run concurrently, which means together at the same time. Um, I will sign a dismissal in clause number 25 DCCR 1686. As part of this agreement, I'm handing you the trial court certifications in each of your cases that shows that these were agreements that I followed and so you've waved your right to appeal. also handed you a written admonishment regarding your ineligibility to possess a firearm or ammunition because of the judgments entered against you. You're ineligible under Texas law to possess a firearm or ammunition. Possession of a firearm or ammunition could lead to charges against you. Firearm is a legal term and you should read that written admonishment I provide you um to see what devices qualify as a firearm. If you have questions about the laws that make you ineligible to possess a firearm or ammunition or about how long that lasts, you can talk with Mr. Vasquez. Right. Ma'am, you can go back with the baiff. >> Thank you. >> Good morning, ma'am. >> Your tan fam. >> Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. >> And Mr. FAM is here in cause numbers 25 DCCR0909 25 DCCR 1039 26 DCCR 0353 0354 and 0355 all charges of theft of property with previous convictions and what is the announcement >> judge this is this is one that um after speaking with Mr. fam and going back through it. I will definitely need some addition just a little bit additional time if you notice even that's the names are appear on the docket they're a little different as far as how they how they are. Um as well as it was a situation I believe he had bonded out and then some more cases came in after the fact. Um >> several were indicted by the end of February your honor with >> and they were >> and those dates are actually before right correct >> the first two dates. So, I'm going back through to try to get everything together with him. >> Okay. Any issue? >> No, your honor. No reason not to reset. Just make sure we have everything straightened out. >> Okay. I'm just going to reset your case, a normal reset so that Mr. Lewis can kind of get everything straightened out, talk to you, make sure um where everybody is, and then we'll get an announcement at the next court date. >> I will be a good on man. >> Okay. Thank you. You can go back with the baiff. I'm glad you >> Good morning. Are you Derek Shinkle? >> Yes, sir. And this is 25 DCCCR 1797. Mr. Shingle is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. And what is the announcement? >> Judge, I've uh I've been out talking with Mr. Shank, going over the case with him and everything. My understanding is that it's his desire to retain uh John John West on this matter. As of yesterday, I believe his family was putting the money together close to where they can get him retained. >> Okay. >> On the matter. >> So, Mr. Shinkle. Um, what I'm going to do, I'll just do one reset. Um, if y'all can get Mr. West hired or someone, that's great. Until then, Mr. Lewis is your attorney. He'll still have all the information and work on your case. Um, if you guys can't get someone hired before that next court date, then we're going to need to go forward. Obviously, we can't just have you sitting in the jail waiting on that. So, uh, Mr. Lewis will stay on until or unless someone else is. And if not, then we'll get it taken care of one way or the other the next court date. You can go back to the pilot. >> Thank you.