Photo: One of many Pronghorn Antelope photos shared on Big Bend Times social media.
Jeff Davis County Justice of the Peace Mary Ann Luedecke told state prosecutors that a journalist took photos from her driveway and posted images of nearby homes—an implication of harassment that Times publisher David Flash says is entirely false and based on a wildlife photo taken from a public road long before he was forced to relocate for his safety.
In a January 9, 2025 recorded interview with prosecutors from the Texas Office of the Attorney General, Luedecke said:
“David Flash was sitting in my driveway one day taking pictures across my pasture. He posted pictures… He called it a picture. He entitled it ‘Antelope.’ And it was taken from the view in my driveway and across my pasture because I recognized the mountains in the background, the houses immediately adjacent. My neighbor’s houses were in that picture.”
The journalist disputes the claim outright, explaining that the photo in question was taken from the side of a public roadway—after spotting an antelope. The image was likely shot in late 2023 or early 2024, months before Luedecke and other Jeff Davis County officials’ conduct forced him to move away due to safety concerns.
“I don’t know where she lives,” Flash said. “I saw an antelope from the road and took a picture. That’s something I do when I see wildlife.”
Luedecke claimed the image was posted in late 2024, implying it was part of a campaign to intimidate her after Flash’s arrest. But the journalist points out that his outlet frequently reuses and re-shares photos—especially those that perform well with readers. The photo, titled “Antelope”, was never deleted, and Flash says he is not the only person at Big Bend Times who schedules social media posts.
“It’s a totally normal part of our workflow,” Flash said. “We bank photos and sometimes repost them. There was no intent to harass anyone—and no reason anyone should believe otherwise.”
Flash left the region before the time Luedecke claimed the photo was taken, returning only briefly for a friend’s wedding and a few one-day reporting trips. Though he no longer resides in the area, Big Bend Times continues to publish more local news about Jeff Davis County than any other outlet.
