In October 2024, Jeff Davis County issued a third false warrant notice to Big Bend Times publisher David Flash, along with a notice from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) stating he had been placed in collections and his driver’s license renewal was denied. The notice followed a false warrant issued in July, alleging he failed to appear for a May 17, 2024, court date—one he was never informed of.
This latest action continues a pattern of procedural irregularities. In late 2023, before Flash’s citation was even pending in the Justice of the Peace court, the county issued a contempt of court warrant notice, later claiming it was a “test” of their software using his personal details. This brings the total number of false warrant notices issued to Flash to three.
Flash repeatedly followed up with county officials, requesting confirmation of any court dates. The Justice of the Peace’s office corresponded with him, sent requested documents, and the county attorney’s office provided discovery materials, yet no court date was ever given. Despite his efforts, he was never notified of an appearance obligation, making the warrant notices and collection actions baseless.
Flash, who had entered a not-guilty plea through counsel and via U.S. mail, raised concerns in multiple emails to county officials, seeking confirmation that no active warrants existed against him. On Oct. 22, he wrote to County Attorney Glen Eisen and other officials, stating, “I received two threatening letters and notice I can’t renew my driver license. I am concerned. I appeared on time via counsel and I reaffirmed my plea in writing, via US mail, twice. I also kept the court in the loop, as did you, via email.”
In response, Eisen attributed the issue to a procedural matter, stating Flash was placed in collections because he entered his plea via email, which the Justice of the Peace’s office did not accept. However, Flash had already entered his plea through counsel and via mail, meeting his legal obligations. He previously cited the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) in communications with Eisen, arguing that an email should be treated as a signed document under Texas law.
Flash pressed county officials for explicit documentation confirming he had no active warrants, writing, “I am afraid to do my job where I encounter police in remote settings, for fear they might run my license and find one of the threatened warrants. I need explicit documentation to assuage this concern.” He further emphasized, “It is not right for a person who does everything they can to follow the letter of the law to still have to fear random arrest via a court’s ‘error.’”
The county’s actions also posed a personal risk for Flash, who raised concerns about his elderly dependent pet in case of an unwarranted arrest. In an Oct. 22 email to Eisen, he wrote, “I continue to receive notices that not only threaten my personal freedom but also place at risk the wellbeing of my elderly dependent pet, should an unwarranted arrest occur.”
Given Flash’s efforts to comply with legal procedures and the court’s awareness of his case, the repeated warrant notices, collections placement, and license renewal denial appear baseless. The county’s actions could be construed as harassment through administrative mismanagement.
Flash called on the county to confirm he had no active warrants and to ensure proper handling of his case. “Fact is, I plead not guilty. Next step is for the JP Court to set a trial date and send me notice of that date. Please make sure my case is set for trial. Hopefully by an objective adjudicator,” he wrote.
The situation raises broader concerns about procedural failures in the Jeff Davis County Justice of the Peace system and potential legal consequences from continued mismanagement. Flash has sought urgent intervention to prevent further issues and to uphold due process.
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