The campaign treasurer for Lane “Buster” Mills, a Republican candidate for Jeff Davis County Judge, has been linked to an anonymous website used to harass and smear a local journalist, according to a review of campaign finance filings, domain records, and communications obtained by Big Bend Times.
The website, BigBendTimes.org, is not affiliated with Big Bend Times despite its nearly identical name. Instead, it has published a series of anonymous posts attacking this publication and its publisher, misrepresenting reporting, recycling personal insults, and attempting to discredit journalism focused on county government accountability.
Treasurer for Mills Campaign Identified
Public campaign finance records filed with Jeff Davis County list Jason G. “Jake” Knobloch as the campaign treasurer for Lane “Buster” Mills, who is challenging incumbent Curtis Evans in the Republican primary for county judge.
Under Texas election law, a campaign treasurer is a legally designated officer responsible for campaign finance compliance, reporting accuracy, and lawful handling of political funds. The role carries fiduciary and ethical obligations central to maintaining public trust in elections.
Separately, evidence reviewed by Big Bend Times links Knobloch to the operation of the anonymous smear website.
Outreach to Third Parties
According to communications obtained by Big Bend Times, the individual behind the site contacted current and former professional associates of publisher David Flash, attempting to solicit negative statements about him. In at least one instance, the individual offered anonymity “to protect y’all from David’s wrath,” language that closely mirrors the tone and framing used throughout the anonymous website.
After a source alerted Big Bend Times to the outreach, the individual’s contact information was obtained and independently verified. That information led to a Fort Davis address matching the address listed for Knobloch in political filings connected to the Mills campaign.
Pattern of Harassment, Not Reporting
The anonymous site does not operate as a news outlet. Its posts are unsigned, lack sourcing, and do not meaningfully engage with the substance of published reporting. Instead, they largely consist of:
- Personal attacks unrelated to public policy
- Mockery of mental health
- Speculation about self-harm
- Obsessive fixation on irrelevant personal details
- Attempts to discredit reporting without disputing documented facts
In one instance, the site exploited the 2011 shooting death of Flash’s younger brother, a tragedy unrelated to public affairs. The post was widely condemned by readers and journalists as crossing a clear ethical line.
Intersection With County Officials
The site’s activities have intersected with actions by sitting Jeff Davis County officials. County Judge Curtis Evans and Justice of the Peace Mary Ann Luedecke have appeared in photographs published on the anonymous site. One post explicitly states that a photo of Luedecke standing beside a county-owned vehicle was “taken with permission,” indicating awareness of how the image would be used.
Emails later revealed that Jeff Davis County officials provided body-camera footage to the anonymous site outside the Texas Public Information Act process. Officials initially denied releasing the footage and later failed to produce records documenting the disclosure.
The combination of selective access to public records, anonymous personal attacks, and insider cooperation has raised concerns among press-freedom advocates about retaliation against journalists and misuse of government resources.
Political Context and Voter Relevance
The fact that the individual linked to the smear site serves as campaign treasurer for Lane “Buster” Mills adds a significant political dimension to what might otherwise be dismissed as anonymous online harassment.
Campaign treasurers are entrusted with compliance, transparency, and ethical conduct. Their actions and judgment are relevant to voters evaluating a candidate’s campaign oversight and standards—particularly in a race for county judge, where integrity and accountability are core responsibilities of the office.
Big Bend Times has not alleged that Mills personally operated, directed, or authored the anonymous website. However, the conduct of a campaign’s designated treasurer is not incidental and forms part of the public record surrounding a campaign.
Matter of Public Accountability
This is not a personal dispute or online feud. It involves:
- An anonymous website impersonating a local news outlet
- Operated by a political campaign officer
- Amplified by sitting county officials
- Fueled by selective and undocumented access to public records
Taken together, these elements raise serious questions about transparency, ethical campaigning, and respect for a free press in Jeff Davis County.
Big Bend Times will continue reporting on the misuse of public resources, retaliation against journalists, and political actors who operate anonymously to avoid accountability.
