APPEAL DENIED FOR LOCAL CONVICTED OF MURDER
(Washington Co. Jail)
A man convicted in the murder of a Blinn College student has had his appeal denied.
Michael Dixon was found guilty in September of 2018 for the 2014 murder of Trey Kurtz, whose body was found in the middle of an intersection near downtown Brenham.
Back in 2018, Dixon was found guilty in a jury trial and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Three co-defendants, Deperrion Lott, J.B. Wright III and Jordan Graves were sentenced after pleading guilty.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas denied Dixon's appeal and affirmed his murder conviction and sentence. Dixon will be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.
In his appeal, according to the opinion issued by the Court of Appeals, Dixon argued five points of error that were all overruled by the court. Dixon first argued that evidence was insufficient to support his murder conviction because there was no credible evidence that he caused Kurtz’s death during the commission of the robbery of Kurtz for marijuana.
Dixon further argued that the State failed to present sufficient evidence corroborating the testimony of Wright. In addition, he stated the trial court erred by admitting Wright’s testimony that Dixon had planned to rob another drug dealer before Kurtz, as well as the testimony of Joshua Wright—J.B.’s brother—that he saw Dixon burglarize a truck and steal the gun used in the murder. Dixon claimed the admission of this evidence violated Texas Rules of Evidence.
Finally, Dixon argued the trial court abused its discretion by admitting a digital download of the contents of Dixon’s cell phone, claiming the exhibit contained “largely irrelevant content”.
Also in district court, nine people pleaded guilty and were sentenced.
49-year old Randy Christopher Robinson of Brenham was sentenced to 15 years in prison for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More/Enhanced – a Second Degree Felony.
59-year old Harold Clay Mulanax of Brenham, received 11 years in prison for Tampering with Physical Evidence – a Third Degree Felony enhanced to a Second Degree Felony.
39-year old Terance James Farrell, Jr. of Brenham was sentenced to seven years in prison for Assault of a Family Member Impede Breath/Circulation/Enhanced – a Second Degree Felony. Farrell was also sentenced to seven months in prison for Endangering a Child – a State Jail Felony.
29-year old Brandon Andrew Hartshorne of Waller was sentenced to 20 month in jail for Theft of Property Between $25,000 and $30,000, and Burglary of a Building – each is a State Jail Felony.
20-year old Essence Deena Dixon of Brenham received four years’ probation on a pair of charges: Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon – a Second Degree Felony; and Assault of EMS Personnel Providing Service – a Third Degree Felony. She was also fine $1000 and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and attend anger management classes.
42-year old Tindale Smith of Houston, 26-year old Ryan Matthew Martinez of Austin and 46-year old Oladapo Kemi Taylor of Cypress, were each placed on two years’ probation, fined $500 and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service for their convictions for Possession of a Controlled Substance – a State Jail Felony
And, 24-year old Albany Necole Cooper of Brenham was placed on one year’s probation and must perform 25 hours of community for two counts of Injury to a Child – a Class A Misdemeanor.