SINTON, Tx — EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated to include a response from the San Patricio County District Attorney's Office.
A San Patricio County judge dismissed felony barratry charges against two attorneys in April, citing a procedural flaw in how a special prosecutor had been appointed — but the case is not over. Bexar County prosecutors have since been named to take over.
Allison Skipper and Shaun Skipper were indicted in November 2025 on third-degree felony barratry charges following a Texas Rangers investigation. A grand jury true-billed both indictments after a Lavaca County prosecutor presented the case.
San Patricio County District Attorney Margie Silva recused her office from the case on March 19, 2025, filing a Motion to Recuse and Appoint Attorney Pro Tem, according to court records.
Judge Patrick Flanigan signed the appointment order the following day, March 20, 2025, naming Lavaca County Attorney James Reeves as Attorney Pro Tem with authority to handle all aspects of the matter — including investigation, grand jury presentation, prosecution, and any postconviction proceedings, according to Kyle Hinkle, First Assistant District Attorney for the 36th Judicial District Attorney's Office
Silva notified Reeves of the appointment on March 21, 2025, and Reeves took over the investigation.
On February 6, 2026 — after indictments had been returned — Reeves asked Silva to file additional recusal motions in the criminal cause numbers specifically, Hinkle said. Silva filed those motions the same day, and a judge signed the corresponding orders on February 11, 2026. Those February filings were intended to clean up the record, not to establish Reeves' authority for the first time, Hinkle said.
Defense attorneys Lisa Greenberg and Gary Bower filed motions arguing Reeves lacked lawful authority to prosecute and alleged collusion between Silva and Reeves in pursuing charges against the Skippers.
At an April 22, 2026, hearing, Judge Kevin O'Connell rejected the collusion arguments and agreed that the March 2025 order gave Reeves broad authority to act, according to Hinkle.
However, O'Connell identified a specific procedural flaw: Judge Flanigan had not contacted Reeves before appointing him to confirm his willingness and ability to serve. O'Connell found that omission disqualifying and granted the defense motions, dismissing the indictments, Hinkle said.
The state had argued the dismissal was unwarranted, citing Texas law holding that an attorney pro tem stands in the place of the regular attorney and may take all actions the district attorney could take.
On May 1, 2026, Judge O'Connell signed orders in both cases appointing a new prosecution team: Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Joe Gonzales, Assistant Criminal District Attorney and Chief of the Public Integrity & Civil Rights Division Nicole Thornbro, and Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Steve Speir and Jeffrey Wright, according to court documents.
