Kevin O’Connor Kommentary March 31

The Brazos County district attorney’s office took action to prevent a federal prison from releasing a convict before he started serving a 75 year sentence for shooting a Bryan man. 47 year old Justin Byrd of Plantersville was convicted by a Brazos County jury in 2020 of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that took place in 2017. Assistant DA Jessica Escue said it was the first time she encountered federal prosecutors choosing to have Byrd complete his federal sentence before starting the sentence for a Brazos County crime. Escue said the feds would not transfer Byrd to a state prison, nor would the state prison system pick up the federal inmate. Escue said the judge in the Brazos County case agreed to issue a bench warrant that allowed county officials to pick up Byrd before the end of his federal sentence and transport him to the Brazos County jail. The bench warrant will also allow county officials to transport Byrd to a state prison. Click below to hear Jessica Escue’s visit with WTAW’s Bill Oliver. Listen to “Brazos County district attorney's office stops the release of a federal prison inmate before he starts serving a 75 year state sentence” on Spreaker.

A home near the Brazos River west of Wellborn was the site of a search by multiple agencies on Monday (April 7). The Brazos County sheriff’s office posted on its Facebook page that a convicted felon, 56 year old Sonny Holligan, was arrested for illegal possession of four rifles, a sawed off shotgun, and an estimated $300 dollars of illegal drugs. Joining the sheriff’s office in the search were College Station and Texas A&M police, the department of public safety, and the College Station fire department. As of April 8, Holligan remains in the Brazos County jail in lieu of bonds totaling $90,000 dollars.

Bryan ISD school board members fill the upcoming vacancy when assistant superintendent and chief financial officer Kevin Beesaw retires July 1. Beesaw has been in his current position since April 2018 and with BISD since 2012. Taking over is the CFO of the Natalia ISD southwest of San Antonio, Norma Friddle. Board members at Monday’s meeting (April 7) had no comments before or after the vote about Beesaw’s upcoming retirement or his successor. Click below to hear comments from the April 7, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting.   News release from Bryan ISD: At the April 7 Bryan ISD School Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved Norma Friddle as the new Assistant Superintendent of Business Services/Chief Financial Officer for Bryan ISD. Friddle comes to Bryan from Natalia ISD where she served as the CFO. Friddle began her career in school finance and business services in 2004 and has worked in finance and business services departments in districts of all sizes, including Del Valle ISD, Comal ISD, and Natalia ISD. She earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2001. Friddle is a registered Texas School Business Administrator through the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) organization. She believes in continuing education and enjoys sharing her knowledge with staff to help her team grow professionally. “In school finance, our mission is to empower educators by providing the financial stability and resources needed to help students thrive. I’m excited to collaborate with the team in Bryan to support the district’s vision and drive meaningful outcomes for our schools and community,” Friddle said. Superintendent Ginger Carrabine shared that she is grateful for the current CFO, Kevin Beesaw, and commends his leadership in Bryan ISD as he transitions into retirement this summer. Carrabine expressed confidence with the selection process as there was a strong applicant pool, and Ms. Friddle was ultimately chosen. Noting that “Mrs. Friddle is coming to us with great knowledge and experience, she will be an asset to the Bryan ISD community.”