KULOW FOUND GUILTY OF OFFICIAL OPPRESSION

  

A Washington County jury has found former jailer Christopher Kulow, guilty of Official Oppression.

The six-member jury deliberated for 3 hours Wednesday afternoon following final arguments in the Class-B misdemeanor trial.

Dozens of extra security personnel were on hand at the Washington County courthouse after rumors circulated that New Black Panther Party leader Quanell X and members of the Panthers would be attending the trial.

Quanell X arrived shortly before noon and spent the afternoon at the courthouse.

Rumors of the Houston activist’s attendance flourished when it was learned that all six members of the jury, five women and one man, are all white—as is Kulow, while the victim is African-American.

Kulow was convicted of assaulting inmate Gregory Webb as he was strapped into a restraining chair, back in 2013.

During closing arguments, District Attorney Julie Renken stated that Kulow knocked over Webb as he was strapped into the chair then struck him in the face.  Webb had been placed in solitary confinement the day before.

The defense argued that Kulow was acting against a threat to the correctional facility and that the state failed to meet its burden of proof.

After the verdict, District Attorney Julie Renken and Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak had these comments about the case:

Actavist Quanell X parised the DA and the jury on the verdict:

The sentencing phase of Kulow’s trial is set for October first, back in 21st District Court in Brenham.

Washington County Jail surveillance video from August 22, 2013. (no audio)