AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas judge has ordered Travis County to pay 12 jurors and two alternates $26,700 each after a criminal trial remained suspended for nearly two years.
State District Judge Karen Sage signed the payment order on July 13, 2026, after evidence-tampering charges against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and former county attorney Jason Nassour were dismissed. The 14 payments will cost the county $373,800.
The jurors heard only three days of testimony in August 2024. However, they remained sworn to the case and under court instructions for another 457 days while prosecutors pursued an appeal.
Sage determined that they continued serving during that period because they had not been discharged. The order requires that they each receive $26,700 total.
Payment Reflects Extended Jury Service
The jurors did not spend 457 days inside the courthouse. They returned to their normal routines after the trial stopped, but their legal duties continued.
The panel could not discuss the case, research the defendants, or consume coverage that might affect its judgment. Jurors also had to keep the court informed about changes to their contact information.
Those instructions usually apply during a short overnight break or weekend recess. In this case, they remained in effect as the dispute moved through Texas appellate courts.
State law sets standard Texas jury rates at no less than $20 for the first day and $58 for each later day. Sage applied those rates across the period recognized as jury service.
The resulting payment is compensation for service, not an award for damages or lost income. Jurors will receive the same amount regardless of their occupations or personal earnings.
The case’s long pause transformed a modest daily rate into a large county expense. Paying all 14 panel members $26,700 produces a combined bill just under $374,000.
Evidence Dispute Halted the Trial
Chody and Nassour were charged with tampering with evidence and conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Prosecutors alleged they helped prevent investigators from obtaining video connected to Javier Ambler’s 2019 death.
A production crew for the reality television program “Live PD” accompanied Williamson County sheriff’s deputies on March 28, 2019. Deputies pursued Ambler after attempting to stop him for failing to dim his vehicle’s headlights.
The pursuit ended in Travis County. Ambler was repeatedly shocked with Tasers during the arrest and told officers he had congestive heart failure.
Ambler lost consciousness and died. Video from police body cameras captured parts of the encounter, while the “Live PD” crew recorded separate footage that was never broadcast.
The prosecution alleged Chody and Nassour allowed the production crew to leave a secured scene with its recordings. The footage later became unavailable to investigators.
Both men denied wrongdoing. Their lawyers argued they did not own or possess the footage and could not legally seize material belonging to a media company without proper court authorization.
The defense also argued that the recording could have been obtained through a subpoena. Prosecutors maintained that Chody and Nassour should have preserved it or alerted investigators to the production company’s deletion policy.
During the trial, Sage limited evidence about who authorized the return of the recording equipment. She ruled that federal protections prevented authorities from seizing the material without a subpoena or court order.
Prosecutors said the ruling prevented them from proving central allegations in the indictments. They filed an appeal, and Sage excused the jury while ordering its members to maintain their impartiality.
Appeals Failed to Restart Proceedings
The legal dispute focused on whether prosecutors could immediately appeal Sage’s evidentiary ruling.
A three-judge appellate panel initially sided with the state and returned the case to the trial court. Chody and Nassour then requested consideration by the full Third Court of Appeals.
The full court concluded that the court lacked appellate jurisdiction because Sage’s decision was an evidentiary ruling rather than an order dismissing the indictments.
Prosecutors asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to review that decision. The court declined the petitions on May 14, 2026.
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office announced on July 1 that the charges would be dismissed. Prosecutors said the appellate outcome left them unable to present evidence they considered necessary to establish guilt.
The dismissal did not produce a verdict on the allegations. Chody and Nassour were not convicted, and the jury never began deliberations.
Sage ultimately dismissed the charges with prejudice, preventing the same cases from being refiled. She also discharged the jury and approved the disputed compensation.
Ambler’s Death Led to Separate Cases
The prosecution was one of several legal proceedings connected to Ambler’s death.
Former deputies Zachary Camden and James Johnson faced manslaughter charges over their use of force during Ambler’s arrest. A Travis County jury acquitted both men in March 2024.
Ambler’s relatives also pursued civil claims. Williamson County approved a $5 million settlement with the family in 2021 without admitting liability.
The dismissed case against Chody and Nassour concerned the missing television footage, not direct responsibility for Ambler’s death. Prosecutors accused them of interfering with evidence, while the defense maintained that preserving the material was not within their legal authority.
Former Defendants File Federal Lawsuit
Four days after Sage’s order, Chody and Nassour filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the Western District of Texas.
The July 17 complaint names Travis County District Attorney José Garza, Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick, two assistant prosecutors and both counties.
The lawsuit alleges malicious prosecution, due-process violations, retaliation and other constitutional claims. Those accusations remain unproven, and the defendants had not filed substantive responses when the case was first disclosed.
Chody and Nassour are seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, legal costs and other relief. The criminal prosecution is closed, the jury has been discharged, and the federal civil case remains pending in Waco.
