I am currently facing a false criminal charge in Jeff Davis County. Another one—a terroristic threat accusation—has already been dropped.
Just imagine that for a moment. Imagine being a journalist, doing your job, and being falsely labeled a terrorist by your own local government. No weapon. No threat. Just a camera, a notebook, and a pattern of asking questions they didn’t want to answer.
This isn’t about law enforcement. It’s about power—and how far Fort Davis officials are willing to go to retaliate against someone who holds them accountable.
For nearly two years, Big Bend Times has exposed mismanagement, secrecy, and disturbing conduct in Jeff Davis County government. I’ve reported on misuse of taxpayer money, improper attempts to shield public records, and courthouse officials who retaliate instead of respond. Rather than address those issues, the county has decided to go after me—personally, professionally, and now legally.
Let me walk you through what’s really happening.
They’ve tried repeatedly to build a case where no crime exists. They’ve pulled building security footage, combed through my work, and assembled stacks of emotionally charged, inconsistent statements from public employees who, instead of focusing on their duties, spent hours characterizing my demeanor and documenting my tone. They didn’t find lawbreaking—because there wasn’t any. What they found was journalism.
Take my visit to the Austin law firm the county hired—spending over $14,000 of taxpayer money in a fight to keep public records hidden. I showed up, camera on, respectful. The attorneys were professional. No one asked me to leave. The county technically “won” that records dispute, but now many of those same records are subject to discovery as part of my defense against these false charges. In other words, their expensive attempt to withhold public information only delayed the inevitable—and now taxpayers are paying twice.
But instead of focusing on facts, County Attorney Glen Eisen used my visit to the law firm as ammunition. In a formal statement, he wrote that I “just think [I] can go anywhere and shove a camera in people’s faces.” That’s a lie. I’ve never done that. What I have done is document public spaces, public signage, and public officials—activities well within my rights as a journalist and citizen.
Then there’s the allegation that I might be violent.
Let me be clear: I’ve never been violent in my life. I’m a vetted hospice volunteer and Meals on Wheels volunteer—roles that require background checks and references. Eisen knows this. Still, he dredged up my minor, long-ago misdemeanors—what he referred to as my “rap sheet”—and tried to cast me as a public risk. He knows better. And he did it anyway.
They’ve already had to drop one charge—“terroristic threat”—because it simply wasn’t true. What remains is just as flimsy, built on contradictions between employee statements, video footage, and even their own internal records. One report says I opened a door to confront staff. Video shows they opened the door and began the conversation while I stood there silently photographing a sign. One of their own statements confirms it. But the official report still blames me.
Pointing out every lie, every contradiction, every misstatement takes time and money—and that’s the game. Bleed the journalist dry. Make it painful to hold power accountable.
Yes, I’ve been critical. Yes, I’ve threatened to sue. I’ve considered organizing a recall. These aren’t crimes. They’re the acts of a citizen using every legal and constitutional tool available to address serious concerns.
But instead of addressing the substance of those concerns, officials in Jeff Davis County decided to criminalize the person raising them.
They haven’t caught a criminal. They’ve targeted a reporter.
There’s no crime here—just journalism. And it’s not going away.
— David Flash
Editor & Publisher, Big Bend Times
