Brian Michael Cromeens, 24th Judicial District Attorney

06/16/2026

We’re Hiring: Legal Secretary – The Fighting 24th

The 24th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is looking for a Legal Secretary to join our team serving the citizens of DeWitt, Goliad, and Refugio Counties.

This position plays a critical role in keeping our office moving forward by assisting attorneys and staff with case management, scheduling, document preparation, records management, and day-to-day office operations. If you are organized, dependable, detail-oriented, and interested in public service, we encourage you to apply.

Our office is committed to professional prosecution, victim advocacy, and strong partnerships with law enforcement and the communities we serve. We work hard, hold each other accountable, and take pride in being an example of what rural prosecution can look like across Texas.

For complete details and application information, please see the official posting through the Texas District and County Attorneys Association Job Bank: TDCAA Legal Secretary Posting⁠

Please share with anyone who may be interested. We are looking for someone ready to help us continue building the future of the Fighting Twenty-Fourth.

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY 24th Judicial District of Texas DeWitt, Goliad, and Refugio Counties JOB POSTING LEGAL SECRETARY Full-Time | DeWitt County Courthouse | Cuero, Texas The Office of the…

06/10/2026

The Fighting 24th is sharing this message from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers in hopes that someone may have information that helps identify an unknown victim and bring accountability to those responsible for her death.
In Texas, there is no statute of limitations for murder. Time does not erase responsibility, and it does not diminish the value of a victim's life. Whether a case is one year old or thirty years old, justice remains worth pursuing.
In 1992, the remains of an unidentified woman were discovered on a ranch in Refugio County. Investigators believe she was between 20 and 35 years old, approximately 5'3" tall, and may have been white or Hispanic. She died from a gunshot wound, and investigators believe her body may have been at the location for one to three years before being discovered.
The Texas Rangers have increased the reward to up to $6,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
Someone knows who this woman was. Someone knows what happened. If you have information, no matter how small it may seem, now is the time to come forward.
Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip through the Texas DPS Cold Case Program.
Please share this post. One conversation, one memory, or one tip could be what finally breaks a case that has waited far too long for answers.

INCREASED REWARD: The Texas Rangers need help identifying a woman whose remains were found on a ranch in Refugio Co. in 1992. She was shot death, and her body was left at the location about 1-3 years before being discovered.

Based off forensic examinations, investigators believe the woman to be:

🔸White or Hispanic
🔸20-35 years old
🔸5 ft. 3 in. tall

An increased reward of up to $6,000 is being offered for info that leads to the arrest of those responsible for her murder. More details about this case and how you can submit a tip ➡️ bit.ly/3PS8QTF.

06/04/2026

Before leaving the courthouse this evening, I stepped into an almost empty courtroom and reflected on a long day.

Today we had a pretrial docket in DeWitt County with more than 100 cases. By day's end, we had resolved more than a dozen through plea agreements, providing accountability for offenders, closure for victims, and continued progress in moving cases through the justice system.

Most importantly, we secured a lengthy state prison sentence that will stack onto a substantial federal sentence, ensuring a child predator who lived in our midst will spend approximately 50 years behind bars. The Defendant will not be parole eligible.

The prosecution was led by First Assistant District Attorney Jessica Shawver-Savino, who took responsibility for the case shortly after joining our office. After extensive preparation with our staff, Investigator Joel Johnson, our victim advocates, and law enforcement partners, we were ready for trial. Faced with that preparation and the evidence against him, the defendant chose to plead.

The most important part of today, however, was not the sentence. It was standing beside the victim as she delivered her victim impact statement. Her courage and determination reminded everyone in the courtroom why this work matters.

Today's result reflects the dedication of the Cuero Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, our victim advocacy team led by Leigh Ann Harryman, Norma's House Child Advocacy Center, and every professional who helped bring this case to its conclusion. Justice is never the work of one person.

Days like today are rewarding but not easy. They require victims willing to find their voice, law enforcement willing to do the hard work, and public servants committed to seeing a case through to the end.

Today, justice was done. Just as importantly, we continued building a system where cases move, victims are heard, and justice is delivered without unnecessary delay.

Tomorrow, the work continues.

05/25/2026

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.

05/08/2026

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.

05/05/2026

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

05/01/2026

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

04/24/2026

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.

04/24/2026

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.

04/22/2026

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.