In a recorded interview with prosecutors from the Texas Office of the Attorney General, Jeff Davis County Justice of the Peace Mary Ann Luedecke claimed she feared for her family after spotting Times publisher David Flash near her children’s school—an implication of misconduct that even she acknowledged had no direct confrontation or wrongdoing.
“I fear for my family because he’s followed my kids at their grade schools,” Luedecke said during the January 9, 2025 interview with prosecutors Geoff Barr and Ian Martin.
But when asked how she knew this had happened, she replied:
“Because I was there when he showed up.”
Did he talk to your kids or anything like that?
“No, he didn’t. No.”*Because then I would have come apart.”
Flash says the claim is fabricated. “I don’t know where her children go to school. I have never followed anyone’s kids. That didn’t happen,” he said.
Flash operates two respected journalism outlets—one regional publication serving the Big Bend area, and another Texas-based outlet with a global perspective. Together, they have a combined social media following of more than 350,000 people and publish reporting seen by both local and international audiences.
“Neither of my outlets engage in personal targeting. We publish public interest news,” Flash said. “This accusation is designed to smear a journalist, not protect anyone.”
The judge’s phrasing suggested fear and wrongdoing, but even her own testimony made clear that Flash never interacted with her children and did not violate any laws. No charges or complaints were filed.
