NEXT COURT DATE SET FOR CHESTER JACKSON, JR.
A new court date has been set for a Somerville man who continues his recovery from incidents that occurred while he was in Burleson County custody nearly two years ago.
After a status hearing Monday, a reset date has been set for September 27th for Chester Jackson, Jr. The court will use the reset date to evaluate Jackson’s progress and determine if he is able to defend himself in court on the criminal charges he faces.
Monday’s hearing was held in relation to the assault charge Jackson faces after allegedly biting an officer during his stay at the Burleson County Jail. He was originally arrested in April of 2019 outside his home on a public intoxication charge.
According to Jackson’s attorney, U.A. Lewis, a civil rights lawsuit filed by Jackson’s family against Burleson County is still pending in federal courts in Austin. Lewis said it could take a year before the end of the lawsuit.
Lewis expects another lawsuit will be filed soon against Cross Creek Psychiatric Hospital in Austin, where Jackson was taken by Burleson County deputies after his stay at the jail, and where he lost consciousness after being sedated and put into a hold.
Body camera footage shows the handcuffed Jackson being pushed inside a jail cell by an officer and hitting his head on a toilet. Former Caldwell Police Sergeant Robert Baucom, the officer seen in the video, was sentenced to a year of probation and forced to surrender his peace officer’s license after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of official oppression.
Jackson remains in a long-term care facility in Austin, unable to speak. Visitation is restricted due to COVID-19.