Deanna Jo Robinson was found not guilty of a charge of interference with child custody.
Testimony during a trial Tuesday in the 354th District Court revealed Robinson was never formally served with the court order that was the focus of the indictment, prior to her arrest in March 2015 which was the subject of a widely-circulated video.
The Hunt County grand jury issued the indictment in October 2015, while at the same time issuing a "no bill" concerning a Hunt County Sheriff’s deputy on an allegation of aggravated assault against Robinson. The grand jury also returned a no-bill naming Robinson on a charge of assault on a public servant, for allegedly attacking the deputy.
The indictment of interference with child custody against Robinson alleged she violated a court order for a writ of attachment regarding the child on March 4, 2015.
During opening arguments Tuesday, defense attorney David Renshaw argued that Robinson did not violate the court order, as she was never served it prior to being taken into custody at the scene.
A Hunt County Sheriff’s Deputy, a Quinlan Police Department officer and two representatives of Child Protective Services (CPS) arrived at Robinson’s parent’s home in Quinlan to serve the order, directing them to take custody of Robinson’s 18-month-old son. A CPS investigator had previously contacted Robinson, informing her of the order and arranging the time of the serving of the order.
A video from one of the patrol vehicles, played during Tuesday’s trial before 354th District Court Judge Richard A. Beacom, corroborated testimony which indicated the first officer on the scene knocked on the door of the residence. When Robinson answered, the officer mispronounced the name of the child and Robinson informed him there was no one at the home by that name.
The officer then states they have a warrant to take custody of the child and Robinson asks to see the order. The officer then attempts to enter the residence, but Robinson tries to force the door closed. The officer hands the folder containing the order to Hunt County Sheriff’s Deputy William Whitten, who again tells Robinson about the order.
Robinson attempts to take the file from Whitten, who snatches it away.
“It was the only copy of the warrant I had and I did not want to give her that,” Whitten testified. “I did not want her to rip it up, thinking it was the only copy we had.”
Whitten later said it was the first time had served a writ of attachment and was unaware the CPS officials had additional copies of the order in their possession at the time.