Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee earned another victory for Harris County in its lawsuit challenging Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s prohibition on mask mandates. Thursday evening, the Texas Supreme Court denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to undo a trial court order Menefee previously secured in the case, which ruled the State cannot enforce Governor Abbott’s ban on mask mandates issued by Harris County and several school districts.

Menefee stated:

“This is an important decision. It means Harris County’s orders mandating masks for employees and students stand for now. Our lawsuit against the Governor will continue, and we’ll keep giving all we’ve got to ensure local officials and school districts can protect our students and immunocompromised. I’m hopeful today’s decision also means the Texas Supreme Court is taking a hard look at whether Governor Abbott is misusing the Disaster Act and needs to be reined in.”

About the Harris County Attorney’s Office
Christian D. Menefee was elected as County Attorney for Harris County in November 2020. The office represents the largest county in Texas in all civil legal matters, including lawsuits.

Two Houston men have been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the kidnapping, raping, and robbing of a woman in Sharpstown in 2017, Harris County District Attorney’s Office announced Saturday.

“No one should have to go through a random act of violence like this, and my heart goes out to the victim,” Harris County District Attorney Ogg said. “She was terrorized and traumatized and still had the presence of mind to get away and seek justice.”

Martin Cruz, 42, was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a Harris County jury late Wednesday after a week-long trial. He was convicted of aggravated kidnapping for abducting a woman at gunpoint outside an apartment complex in southwest Houston, across the street from Cruz’s apartment.

Evidence presented in court showed that Cruz and Ricardo Matilde-Silvas, 34, approached the victim on March 16, 2017, and forced her into her vehicle at gunpoint. Inside the car, she was sexually assaulted and made her wear a jacket over her head. They took her to an ATM, made her take out $300, and then brought her back to Cruz’s apartment where she was again sexually assaulted. After the attack, she convinced the two men to release her, and she immediately contacted Houston Police.

Matilde-Silvas pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault for his part in the incident in exchange for a 30-year prison sentence in April. 

Assistant District Attorney Kim Nwabeke who handled the case with the prosecutor, ADA Chris Handley, told jurors during the week-long trial that the victim lived through her own horror story and came away stronger.

“She lived every young woman’s worst nightmare, being taken in the night by the monster next door,” Nwabeke said. “Now, she’s turned the tragedy into strength and is working to empower other survivors to speak out.”

The case was investigated by the Houston Police Department and prosecuted by the Sex Crimes Division of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

“We thank the jurors for their service and the prosecutors and police in this case for their work in seeing that justice was delivered for the victim and our entire community,” Ogg said. “We are grateful to them.”