A Galveston county official was barred Monday from contacting his wife after being accused of threatening to kill her last week.
Jason Murray, the Republican district clerk of Galveston County, was in a Harris County courtroom Monday working out bond conditions that included not venturing to any zip code where his wife, a criminal defense lawyer, lives or works.
The 37-year-old, who is out on bail, is accused of threatening to kill Mekisha Jane Murray on March 25.
“There’s an allegation about, perhaps, a volatile phone conversation that he may or may not have had with the complainant in the underlying assault case,” said Murray’s attorney Carson Joachim. “This is tough – he’s a loyal and faithful servant of the community.”Murray also has to contend with driving while intoxicated charges after being arrested March 27 in League City after his car struck two other vehicles.
Police said Murray’s car hit a car stopped at a red light about 4:45 p.m. After being cited and released, the 37-year-old was driving erratically and clipped another car, police said. Murray told officers he had a prescription for Xanax, an anxiety drug, and Zoloft, an antidepressant. He was arrested for DWI and taken to Galveston County jail.
In court Monday, prosecutors said Murray has violated the terms of probation he agreed to when he pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife after a Christmas party last year.
Murray admitted guilt in exchange for deferred adjudication, a form of probation that would have allowed him to escape a conviction if he had abided by the terms for two years.
During a hearing yet to be scheduled, prosecutors will ask the judge overseeing Murray’s probation to agree that Murray violated his probation, which means he will be convicted of assault, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail.
County Court at Law Judge Robin Brown could find Murray violated his probation because of the DWI or the threat, according to court records.
Murray is expected to back in court Tuesday to finalize the conditions of his bail, which include no contact with his wife or child and also could include a GPS monitor. Murray was elected as district clerk in 2010.
Mekisha Murray lost her 2008 bid as a Democratic Harris County judicial candidate.
Regards,
Jim
Andy Hailey