Kevin O’Connor Kommentary March 28

Governor Abbott Was Ready To Fire Texas A&M’s President

Governor Greg Abbott was ready to fire Texas A&M president Mark Welsh. That’s according to a post on the governor’s personal X/Twitter page. Abbott was responding to other social media that revealed permission had been given for A&M employees to participate in a conference that violated the state’s anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) law, also known as SB-17, that was enacted two years ago. Abbott posted “It’s against Texas law and violates the US Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone.” A university spokeswoman told WTAW News “The president does not approve what conferences employees across campus go to.” Welsh sent an e-mail to employees at A&M’s Mays business school after learning of the governor’s social media post. Welsh wrote that the university “will not be sending anyone to participate in this conference”. Welsh said “This particular conference’s limitations on the acceptable race of attendees is not in line with the intent of SB-17”. The e-mail, sent to WTAW News by the university, said: “Earlier this evening I released the following statement on social media in response to criticism we received for approving folks to attend and present at a doctoral recruiting conference that limited attendees (potential doctoral students) by race and other factors:” “Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor. The intent of SB-17 is very clear in that regard. We will continue to honor both the letter and the intent of the law.” “While the proper process for reviewing and approving attendance at such events was followed, I don’t believe we fully considered the spirit of our state law in making the initial decision to participate. This particular conference’s limitations on the acceptable race of attendees is not in line with the intent of SB-17, and, as a result, we will not be sending anyone to participate in this conference. Texas A&M faculty and staff attend hundreds, if not thousands, of conferences and other events during the course of each academic year. We need to be sure that attendance at those events is aligned with the very clear guidance we’ve been given by our governing bodies.”

Brazos County District Court Plea Agreements Covering An Armed Robbery And Domestic Violence Crimes

Two men have admitted participating in an armed robbery in College Station in October of 2023. Both men entered plea agreements with the Brazos County district attorney’s office. Last week (January 9), 19 year old Audreas Gibson of Hearne pleaded guilty to robbery. He is awaiting a trip to prison for a five month sentence called shock probation. Upon successful completion, Gibson could receive probation from the remainder of a ten year sentence. Last November, 19 year old Nathaneal Aniello of College Station pleaded guilty in six felony cases for crimes during a nine month period in 2023 and 2024. He received a six year prison sentence for the aggravated robbery with Gibson, along with separate cases of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, drug possession, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Gibson and Aniello participated in a robbery where the victim was pistol-whipped and robbed of two guns, a pair of Air Jordan shoes, and $600 dollars in cash. A Bryan man who had been on probation for breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment in September 2018 is headed to prison. The five year sentence to be served by 30 year old Jordan Anderson-Stewart also covers his admission to pushing the mother of their child to a concrete floor in January of 2024. That victim was hospitalized with a brain bleed. The Brazos County district attorney’s office announces guilty pleas from a Houston man to domestic violence crimes against a woman in College Station that took place in October 2020. 36 year old Vincent Marshall Jr. was sentenced to 28 years in prison. But prosecutors say the punishment could have been greater had Harris County prosecuted 11 indictments on felony domestic violence charges. Because the Harris County cases were reduced to misdemeanors or dismissed, Brazos County could not consider a punishment range of between 25 and 99 years. In Brazos County, Marshall entered a plea agreement to strangling a woman then four days later punching the same victim.             News release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office in the Vincent Marshall Jr. case: On Thursday, January 9, 2025, Vincent Marshall Jr. pled guilty and was sentenced to 28 years in prison for Assault Family Violence with a Previous Conviction, Assault Family Violence Strangulation with a Previous Conviction, and Bail Jumping. In early 2020, Marshall entered into a romantic relationship with the victim in Houston, Texas. This relationship quickly became riddled with violence. Marshall moved himself and the victim to areas around Houston, further isolating her and prohibiting access to loved ones. In September of 2020, Marshall moved the victim to College Station, Texas. On October 2, 2020, Marshall strangled the victim and beat her so severely that she had to go to the hospital for medical attention. There, Marshall would not leave her side to ensure that the victim could not escape. On October 6th, College Station Police Department officers responded to a local hotel for a criminal trespass complaint. To avoid being caught for his continuous abuse, Marshall provided officers a fake name. Once officers left the area, Marshall forced the victim to drive away, punching her while she drove. Later that day, the victim, in an act of bravery, was able to escape Marshall and find safety in Baylor Scott & White Hospital in College Station. Upon discovering the victim’s escape, the defendant fled and was apprehended in Navarro County the next day. While awaiting trial for his crimes and out on bail, Marshall fled to Houston and did not report for his day in court. Marshall’s criminal history included 11 felony domestic violence indictments, all of in Harris County. Those cases were either dismissed or pled to misdemeanors, which prevented the defendant from going to prison, and his later felony crimes from being enhanced 25-99 years in prison. Statement from assistant district attorneys Abigail Goodman and Caleb Beacham: “The defendant chose to embody cowardice by deliberately harming those he claimed to love and hiding from accountability. The victim in this case embodied bravery by coming out of the shadows and reporting her abuse.”

A Second Arrest From Last Year’s Krispy Kreme Fire In College Station And Five People Arrested On Drug Charges In Bryan

For the second time, a co-owner of College Station’s Krispy Kreme doughnut shop that was destroyed by fire in May 2024 goes to jail. 55 year old Brian Keith Davis of Katy was released from the Brazos County jail last week after posting a $50,000 dollar bond. That follows Davis being indicted by a grand jury on felony charges of arson and insurance fraud of more than $300,000 dollars. Davis was initially arrested in Harris County in August 2024. Online records show Davis’s next court appearance is set for February 12th, when he is supposed to update the judge on the status of getting a lawyer. Bryan police seize an estimated $7,000 dollars of illegal drugs during the search of a home off Old College Road last Friday (January 9). BPD arrest reports say officers found about one and a half pounds of THC gummies, smaller quantities of three other drugs, and an undisclosed amount of unknown prescription type pills. Four people were arrested for possessing controlled substances. They are 56 year old Karen Hinton of Bryan, 56 year old Kevin Soto of Bryan, 44 year old Clayton Collier of Bryan, and 40 year old Kelly Londrigan of Bryan. As of January 14th, all four remain in jail in lieu of bonds ranging from $14,000 to $57,000 dollars. A fifth person, 32 year old Roxann Espinoza of Bryan, is out of jail after posting a $350 dollar bond on a charge of possessing drug paraphernalia.