San Antonio's legal circles are heating up as defense attorneys for James Brennand, an ex-cop charged with aggravated assault in the 2022 shooting of a teenager, have subpoenaed Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales for all his communications with the Austin-based Wren Collective. According to KSAT, the subpoena seeks a wide array of communications, highlighting potential influence by the criminal justice reform group on the high-profile case.
The subpoena demands that DA's office produce text messages, emails, and other forms of communication between his office and the group, specifically regarding the case of former SAPD officer James Brennand, who was indicted last December for the shooting of Erik Cantu. Cantu was 17 at the time he was shot in a McDonald's parking lot after Brennand mistakenly identified his vehicle as one from an evading arrest case the night before. The teen survived despite his critical injuries. KSAT's investigations also revealed that the Wren Collective had proposed talking points for the DA, leading the defense to cite influences that could compromise Brennand's right to a fair trial. "Today we served the District Attorney with a subpoena, commanding him to produce all communications between his office and members of the Wren Collective concerning Mr. Brennand and his case," Brennand's attorney, Nico LaHood, a former Bexar County District attorney, said in an statement obtained by KSAT.
These revelations are coming to light as Gonzales's relations with Jessica Brand, the founder of the Wren Collective, are scrutinized. The San Antonio Express-News reported that the Wren Collective has been advising on policy issues and high-profile cases in the DA’s office since Gonzales took office in January 2019. Brand’s recommendations to drop criminal charges against Cantu are now being contested by Brennand's defense in light of her firm's advisory role with the DA's office.
Adding to the drama, Assistant District Attorney Daryl Harris requested additional time to gather and review the subpoenaed records, indicating the possibility of an attempt to quash the subpoena. Meanwhile, Brennand's attorney Patrick Ballantyne argued in court that Gonzales's past comments and the Wren Collective’s involvement could have tainted the jury pool. "Now it appears that the Wren Collective and one particular lady were delivering to the District Attorney’s Office talking points … apparently consulting them on whether to release the criminal charges against Erik Cantu and directing them on other matters relating to this case," Ballantyne said. State District Court Judge Joel Perez has scheduled another hearing for March 7, giving all parties time to mount their respective cases.
This dispute draws further attention to the broader implications of influence and impartiality within the justice system, as the Cantu shooting continues to raise questions about the use of lethal force by an police and the role of external advisors in the administration of justice.
