Brian Michael Cromeens, 24th Judicial District Attorney

This Memorial Day, the Fighting 24th pauses to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who gave their lives in service to this country and the freedoms we enjoy every day. Their sacrifice is the highest expression of duty, courage, and love of country, and we remain forever indebted to them and to the families who carry that loss.

Our commitment to supporting those who serve does not end with remembrance one day a year. Every day across the 24th Judicial District, we stand alongside the law enforcement officers, dispatchers, probation officers, victim advocates, Children’s Advocacy Center professionals, first responders, and court personnel who step forward to protect our communities and keep our families safe.

From the battlefield abroad to the front lines here at home, service matters. Sacrifice matters. And on this Memorial Day, the Fighting 24th remembers those who gave everything and honors all those who continue to carry the mission forward.

As we close out the week, the Fighting 24th wants to take a moment to recognize and honor the mothers who make this office, and our entire justice system, work every single day.

The mothers in our office wear a lot of hats. They manage trial dockets, advocate in the courtroom on behalf of the State of Texas, stand beside victims and their families, coordinate the countless moving pieces behind the scenes, and still greet the public with professionalism and kindness when they walk through our doors.

We also want to recognize all the mothers across the 24th Judicial District who help keep the wheels of justice turning day in and day out. Our judges, clerks, court reporters, probation officers, victim advocates, dispatchers, jail staff, and law enforcement officers balance demanding careers of public service with the equally important responsibility of raising families and caring for those they love.

That work is not easy, and too often it goes without enough recognition.

This weekend, the Fighting 24th tips its hat to all the mothers serving our communities across DeWitt, Goliad, and Refugio Counties.

Happy Mother’s Day weekend from the Fighting 24th.

Today, we join in recognizing Cinco de Mayo, a day that marks the Mexican victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla.

What many may not realize is that the leader of that victory, Ignacio Zaragoza, was born right here in Goliad, Texas.

It’s a reminder that our communities are tied to history in ways that stretch far beyond county lines. The story of courage and leadership behind Cinco de Mayo has roots right here in the 24th.

Proud to serve a district where history like that started.

Happy CINCO DE MAYO! Do you KNOW the history of why this is so important?

"Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. While often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16), it actually celebrates a morale-boosting win against foreign intervention, largely celebrated today in the U.S. as a commemoration of Mexican-American heritage and culture." - Google AI

Do you want to know more?!? Well, head over to the on Saturday, May 9 to hear about this Hero!
Photo: Texas Historical Commission

https://thc.texas.gov/events/general-ignacio-zaragoza-his-birthplace-life-and-el-cinco-de-mayo

Today, the Fighting 24th doffs its hat to celebrate the birthday of our Secretary and Victim Assistance Coordinator for DeWitt County, Leigh Ann Harryman.

If an office is a body, Leigh Ann is its heartbeat.

Day in and day out, she takes care of this team and, more importantly, she takes care of the people who need it most. The victims and families who come through our doors are met with compassion, patience, and steady guidance because of her. That kind of work does not always get the spotlight, but it is the kind that makes everything else possible.

We are better at what we do because of her.

Happy Birthday, Leigh Ann. We appreciate you more than words can say.

DeWitt County Judge Daryl Fowler
Jhiela "Gigi" Poynter - Refugio County Judge
Yoakum Police Department
DeWitt County Sheriffs Office
Cuero Police Department
Goliad County Sheriff's Office
Town of Refugio Police Department
Simon McCloud III, Refugio County Attorney

Today I, along with representatives of the DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office, DeWitt County Jail staff, the DeWitt County Attorney’s Office, and Justice of the Peace Blanca McBride, had the opportunity to take part in the “Watch Your BAC” program at Cuero High School.

This program is about more than alcohol awareness. It’s about accountability. It’s about making sure young people understand that the decisions they make in a moment can follow them for the rest of their lives.

We talked about DWI, what it does to your judgment, and what it can cost you. Not just in fines or jail time, but in opportunities, reputation, and sometimes lives.

We had to teach them a hard truth today. As you step into adulthood, you will not be judged by your intentions. You will be judged by your decisions.

There are seasons in this job where the noise gets loud. Criticism comes easy from the outside, especially when folks are not the ones in the courtroom, in the files, or carrying the weight of the decisions.

That is part of it. It comes with the responsibility.

But in times like that I am reminded that it is not the critic who counts….

What matters is the work. And the people doing it.

Today in DeWitt County, our team showed up and moved more than 30 cases on a non jury docket for the second time in a row. That does not happen by accident. That takes preparation, coordination, and a group of people who care about getting it right.

It takes our staff putting in the hours. It takes clerks keeping things moving. It takes probation, officers, and everyone involved doing their part.

That is the arena.

No matter how tough a couple of weeks may be, this is why we do it. The work matters. The results matter. And the people of this district deserve a team that keeps showing up and keeps pushing forward.

Proud of the Fighting 24th.

Texas DPS has issued a Silver Alert for 81 year old Velton Williams & 75 year old Joyce Williams. Both are diagnosed with a cognitive impairment! They were last seen at around 1pm in Columbus, TX.

Velton Williams
Age 81 Years Hair White
Height 6'0' Race White
Weight 200 lbs Gender Male
Eyes Blue

Joyce Williams
Age 75 Years Hair Brown
Height 5'4' Race White
Weight 180 lbs Gender Female
Eyes Brown

They may be in a black 2021 Jeep Cherokee Texas plates RYY-3326
Any information on their whereabouts should be directed to the Goliad County Sheriff’s Office at 361-645-3451.

Maggie and I had the pleasure of sponsoring a table at Norma’s House Bingo, Bags, and Badges fundraiser last night. We brought along some folks from the office and some family, and it was a good night all around. I even got pulled in to do a little cattle rattle for the live auction, which was a lot of fun.

Events like this matter because of what Children’s Advocacy Centers actually do. CACs are where some of the hardest cases start. They give kids a safe place to be heard, they bring together law enforcement, prosecutors, and medical professionals, and they make sure the work is done the right way from day one.

That matters in the courtroom. When a case involves a child, how that first interview is handled can make or break everything that follows. The professionals at CACs know how to do it right. They protect the child, and they help us build cases that hold up.

We’re grateful for the work they do for the children and families of the 24th Judicial District. It makes a difference for victims, and it makes a difference for justice.

As a proud board member with the Cuero Chamber of Commerce I was able to spend some time today at the Governor’s Small Business Summit here in Cuero.

If we’re going to do this job right in the 24th, we’ve got to stay plugged in not just to the courtroom, but to what’s going on with our local businesses and our economy across DeWitt, Goliad, and Refugio Counties.

I was proud to see my wife, Maggie, helping lead the effort. As Executive Director of the Cuero Development Corporation, she helped host the event and served as a moderator on a panel focused on small businesses in the Crossroads Area. Maggie and her team put a lot of work in everyday to help create real opportunities in this community and the surrounding area.

A stronger economy makes a difference. When people are working and businesses are growing, it helps stabilize families and communities, and that has a direct impact on crime.

I’ll keep showing up, paying attention, and doing our part, both in the courtroom and outside of it.

Congrats Sgt. Rubio.