Welcome to Arrest Stories. A Brown County Judge faces multiple felony charges including tampering with a witness in a family violence case and allegedly striking a county attorney. Here's what may have happened.
Alan Shane Britton, who serves as Brown County Judge, was booked into the Brown County Jail on Monday morning at nine twenty-three a.m. He was released roughly an hour later after posting bonds totaling thirty thousand dollars for five charges.
The Texas Rangers are conducting an investigation into the allegations against Britton. According to police reports, the charges stem from incidents that occurred in January twenty twenty-four involving a family violence case.
On January tenth, twenty twenty-four, Britton allegedly attempted to conceal an arrest warrant for John Jacobus Karakaris. Later that month on January thirty-first, Britton allegedly coerced a witness and victim in the family violence case by instructing Karakaris to get the victim to sign an affidavit of non-prosecution.
The tampering with witness charge specifically relates to this family violence case. Police reports indicate Britton withheld arrest warrants that were issued for Karakaris, which were meant to protect the victim. Britton allegedly helped the suspect avoid arrest by not signing the warrant and allowing it to sit on his desk unsigned.
Additional charges include allegations that Britton violated Texas Government Code Section eighty-two point zero six four by practicing law as a licensed attorney in Brown County while serving as the county's judge.
Perhaps most shocking, Britton is accused of hitting an attorney while she was conducting plea negotiations. According to the charges, Britton intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly caused bodily injury to the attorney.
Britton faces a challenge in the March third Republican Primary election from Patrick Howard, who lives in Early but maintains an office in Bangs. Howard released a statement saying he was encouraged to run based on existing concerns with both the judicial and administrative functions of the office.
The Texas Rangers are not releasing information on the ongoing investigation.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.