D.A. Christina Mitchell Archives - Uvalde Hesperian

Attorney General of Texas issues letter ruling in favor of Hesperian’s public records request

admin — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 20:03:34 +0000

10-31-25

Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton Picture credit: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/about-office

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

On Saturday. On October 25th, the Uvalde Hesperian received a copy of a letter sent to 38th Judicial District Attorney Christina Mitchell by the office of the Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton. In the letter it announced its decision on a public records request for the search warrant issued on the residence of Celia “Sally” Gonzalez, where the Robb School shooter was residing prior to the May 24th, 2022, tragedy.

In the letter ruling by the Texas Attorney General is states:

“Pursuant to section 552.302 of the Government Code, a governmental body’s failure to comply with the procedural requirements of section 552.3-1 results in the legal presumption that the requested information is public and must be released unless there is a compelling reason to withhold the information from disclosure.

The letter continues following some case citations listed:

“Although the District Attorney’s office raises the exemption from disclosure, because you have not submitted the information for our review, we have no basis for finding any of the information excepted from disclosure. We have no choice but to order the requested information be released pursuant to section 552.302.”

Upon receiving the letter, the Michael Robinson dba Uvalde Hesperian sent an email on Thursday, October 30th to 38th District Attorney Mitchell asking about the status of the public records request.

That same day, Mitchell replied to the email and wrote: “I will be appealing that decision.”

On August 14th, 2024, Robinson, submitted a public records request for the aforementioned search warrant to the 38th Judicial District Attorney Christina Mitchell.

On August 18th, 2025, Robinson received a response via email from the District Attorney Mitchell stating, “This is to inform you that I have requested an opinion from the Attorney General’s office regarding your request below”

With the email, Mitchell attached a .pdf copy of a letter she electronically sent to Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxon dated August 18th, 2025.

38th District Attorney Christina Mitchell
Source: https://www.38thda.org/

In the letter, Mitchell wrote, ‘Please be advised that the mass shooting that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022, remains an ongoing investigation and prosecution of the Texas Rangers, the FBI, and the 38th Judicial District Attorney. Any release of records or reports to that incident would interfere with said ongoing investigation and prosecution and would impede and hinder my ability to prosecute the criminal offenses alleged by an Uvalde County grand jury. I am therefore requesting that the investigation of this incident, specifically, the information requested in said electronic mail be withheld under Section 552.108 of the Texas Government Code. Any release of that information, specifically, the search warrant of the shooter’s home would interfere with the detection, investigation or prosecution of a crime. Any release of evidence as it relates to the information requested is a release of evidence of a crime.”

According to the Attorney General of Texas website addressing what to expect after a ruling is issued:

“Responsibilities for the Governmental Body

When a governmental body receives its letter ruling from the ORD, the governmental body must:

Promptly release the requested information to you if the ruling states to release the information, or
Notify you when and where the requested public information will be provided to you, or
Notify you when and where the requested public information will be made available for your inspection, or
Notify you of the governmental body’s intent to challenge the letter ruling in a District Court in Travis County, Texas. A governmental body has 30 calendar days to challenge a ruling in district court. But less than 1% of letter rulings are challenged in court.”

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38th D.A. Mitchell appeals Hesperian public records request for search warrant

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:58:09 +0000

by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

09-20-25

38th District Attorney Christina Mitchell
Source: https://www.38thda.org/

38th Judicial District Attorney Christina Mitchell has appealed the release of the search warrant issued on or about May 24th, 2022, for the residence of Celia “Sally: Gonzalez; residence where Salvador Ramos was residing prior to the shooting at Robb Elementary School on that same date.

On August 14th, 2025, The Uvalde Hesperian submitted a public records request via email for the search warrant to the 38th District Attorney’s Christina Mitchell.

Mitchell responded via email to the request on August 18th. “This is to inform you that I have requested an opinion from the Attorney General’s office regarding your request below,” Mitchell wrote.

In a letter to State Attorney Ken Paxton, Mitchell appealed the request to release the search warrant citing the search warrant is part of an ongoing investigation.

As part of the District Attorney’s letter, she wrote:

“Any release of records or reports to that incident would interfere with said ongoing investigation and prosecution and would impede and hinder my ability to prosecute the criminal offenses alleged by an Uvalde County grand jury.
I am therefore requesting that the investigation of this incident, specifically, the information
requested in said electronic mail be withheld under Section 552.108 of the Texas Government
Code. Any release of that information, specifically, the search warrant of the shooter’s home
would interfere with the detection, investigation or prosecution of a crime. Any release of
evidence as it relates to the information requested is a release of evidence of a crime.”

On Thursday, September 18th, the Uvalde Hesperian received a return phone call from the State of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office pertaining to an inquiry on the appeal. A representative from the Attorney General’s Office stated the office has 45 days to make a ruling on the appeal.

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VIDEO: Uvalde County Commissioners approve resolutions for Border Prosecution and Operation Lone Star Grants

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:31:42 +0000

03-11-25

Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

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38th D.A. Christina Mitchell: Crime Victims Compensation Program limited to those at Robb School on May 24th, 2022

admin — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:25:16 +0000

12-10-24

By Michael Robinson: Uvalde Hesperian

At the November 18th Uvalde CISD school board meeting, Superintendent Ashley Chohlis announced that funds are available through a Crime Victims Compensation Program. She stated that the program is not new but announced that help would be available at several Uvalde CISD campuses.

Chohlis said, “It’s always been available, but it hasn’t been widely (publicized) ”

The Uvalde Hesperian reached out via email to 38th Judicial District Attorney Christina Mitchell asking about the program.

Mitchell responded and said, “My office has been and continues to work with Ms. Chohlis and the Uvalde CISD. My office will be present at several campuses in the next couple of months to assist the UCISD with the Crime Victims Compensation Program applications.

It is the Attorney General’s office that receives and processes the applications and then makes the determination if an applicant qualifies and if so, how much that applicant is to receive. It is a reimbursement compensation program. It is my understanding from the Attorney General’s office that, unfortunately, qualified applicants are only UCISD employees who were assigned to work at Robb Elementary and/or families whose children were enrolled and present at Robb Elementary on 5/24/22.

I would strongly encourage everyone to visit the Uvalde Together Resiliency Center for assistance on services that may be needed or just to stop in and inquire as to services that are available. “

Officials ask U.C. Commissioners Court to approve Rural Law Enforcement Grant monies made available by Texas Senate Bill 22

admin — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 15:35:21 +0000

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

38th Judicial District Attorney Christina Mitchell

Uvalde County Commissioners voted to approve requests made by Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco, Uvalde County Attorney John Dodson and 38th Judicial District Attorney Christina Mitchell requested the Uvalde County Commissioners to vote to approve the allocation of grant fund from Texas Senate Bill 22 to be used for pay increases for Sheriff’s Department’s staff and for the hiring an assistant county attorney and assistant district attorney. The Commissioners Court made the decision at it’s first meeting of the new year on Monday Morning January 8th, 2024

Commissioner Ronnie Garza asked Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Brandon McCutchen, “These salaries are being increased as a result of the grant. What happens when the grant no longer fund it; the salaries stay in place right?”

“That would be up to the Commissioners and what they chose to adopt,” McCutchen said.

Uvalde County Auditor Alice Chapman stepped in and said,” This SB 22 allocation is only valid for this legislative session. The next legislative session, it may be passed and it may not be passed.” She went on to say that the grant is only effective for the next two years.“

Texas Senate Bill 22 which was passed on June 7th, 2023 pertains to the establishment of grant programs to provide financial assistance to qualified sheriff’s offices, constable’s offices, and prosecutor’s offices in rural counties.

Uvalde County Attorney John Dodson

According to a report by the Texas State Comptroller’s Office it states the following:

Senate Bill (SB) 22 establishes a grant program that will provide financial assistance to sheriff’s departments, constable’s offices and district and county attorney’s offices in eligible counties to ensure professional law enforcement and legal representation of the people’s interests throughout the state.

Uvalde County Attorney John Dodson makes a request for grant money to hire an assistant county attorney

The new law provides supplemental salaries for different positions in rural areas. Eligible counties can apply for grant funds beginning Jan. 1, 2024, regardless of a particular county’s fiscal start-date. Eligible counties may apply electronically beginning Jan. 1, 2024. In future years, counties and prosecutor’s offices will apply according to the start of their fiscal year.

Eligibility

The Comptroller’s office will use the federal decennial census as the source for the population counts (2020 census data).

A qualified county or prosecutor’s office means the office meets the standards provided by the law.

Offices must serve counties with overall populations of 300,000 or less.
If a constable is already making above the minimum annual salary, the county is not eligible for grant funding to increase the salary.
If a county already pays the minimum salary levels for the sheriff, deputies and jailers, the county may still apply for funds for additional personnel or equipment.

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U.C. Commissioners Court votes not to renew contract with the Ecumenical Center: Local providers will continue to offer services

admin — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 22:48:38 +0000

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian; Picture by Robinson

38th District Attorney Christina Mitchell addressed the Uvalde County Commissioners Court on Monday, December 11th and recommended the Court not renew the contract with the Ecumenical Center of the Uvalde Together Resiliency Center which is located at 2104 East Main Street in the old First State Bank East Main Street Branch.

According to 38th District Attorney Christina Mitchell, the Uvalde County Commissioners Court’s decision not to renew the contract with the Ecumenical Center does not mean counseling and other services at the 2104 East Main facility will cease.

On the Uvalde Together Resiliency Center’s website, it states the following participating organizations offer counseling and other support services at that location:

Bluebonnet Children’s Advocacy Center

Provides trauma-informed care, particularly for child victims and their families

Nueva Vida Counseling

Long-term mental health counseling services
Child psychiatry
Adult psychiatry

Hill Country Mental Health

Local mental health authority, provides mental health services and counseling

Family Service

Financial counseling only

The mission statement found on the organization’s website states the following: The Uvalde Together Resiliency Center (UTRC) is a program of The Ecumenical Center that provides resources, support, and hope to individuals, families, students, faculty, community and organizations impacted by the tragedy at Robb Elementary School.

The current contract between the Ecumenical Center and Uvalde County is set to expire on April 30th, 2023.

“We’ve been working with the Department of Justice and our Governor’s Office to renew the VOCA Grant also known as the Crime Victims Assistance Grant Program (VOCA) – Devotes resources to provide direct services to victims of crime to help them recover and to navigate the justice system,” 38th District Attorney Christina Mitchell said.

“Obviously when we started the Family Resiliency Center, we did not know what that looked like,” D.A. Mitchell said.

Mitchell continued by saying, “But after being involved for two years, it is going to be my recommendation we bring those services in locally.”

In referring to local services, D.A. Mitchell mentioned Family Services and Bluebonnet.

In an email the Uvalde Hesperian received from D.A Mitchell, she wrote,” We are using local clinicians and local agencies to provide services.”

Uvalde County purchased the former First State Bank East Main Branch building at 2104 East Main Street.

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