Attorney blames North Texas school board for suicide of man facing felony charge
A Texas civil rights attorney is blaming Bowie school district leaders for the death of his client, who took his own life after employees pursued a criminal charge against him.
Justin Kuecher, 39, of Montague County died on Aug. 21 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to attorney C.J. Grisham of Temple. Days prior, Kuecher had been accused of illegally recording a conversation between Bowie Superintendent Donna Hale and her administrative assistant, Kelli Ragsdale.
Grisham called the charge against Kuecher meritless.
Grisham, a gun rights activist, has sued Tarrant County officials in federal court over his detention and removal from a commissioners court meetings in January. He was involved in an altercation after he brought a pistol to a meeting, and two weeks later he was removed from Commissioners Court after he used an expletive during his comments.
Was a crime committed in Bowie?
According to Bowie city records obtained by the Star-Telegram, Kuecher went to the school district’s central office on Aug. 5 to file to run for school board in the community 70 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
While there, Kuecher used his phone to record himself talking with Ragsdale while she guided him through the paperwork. Grisham said the purpose of that recording was to help others interested in running for school board navigate the process.
In the recording, which was shared by Grisham on YouTube, you can hear Kuecher asking questions and Ragsdale answering them. At one point, Ragsdale says she’ll need a copy of Kuecher’s driver’s license, and Kuecher says he’ll get his wallet from his car. As he excuses himself, Hale and Kuecher have a brief conversation about his reasons for running for school board.
Kuecher leaves his phone behind when he goes outside, with the voice recorder still running. While he’s gone, Ragsdale and Hale make what sound like disparaging remarks about Kuecher, referencing criticisms of the district he’d posted to Facebook. One of the speakers, though it’s unclear who, appears to mention a third individual who allegedly called Kuecher “crazy.”
Shortly after, Kuecher returns. He and Hale discuss having a potential follow-up conversation, and Kuecher completes the paperwork.
Grisham said Kuecher later listened to the recording and heard the comments Hale and Ragsdale made while he was out of the room. According to statements Hale and Ragsdale provided as part of the criminal complaint, Kuecher posted the recording to Facebook a couple of hours after the interaction.
Kuecher didn’t trust Bowie justice system, attorney said
Based on those statements and an affidavit signed by Lt. Bob Blackburn of the Bowie Police Department, Bowie Municipal Judge Darla Cordell issued a warrant on Aug. 13 for Kuecher’s arrest on a charge that he violated Texas Penal Code 16.02, pertaining to unlawful interception, use or disclosure of wire, oral or electronic communications, a second-degree felony.
On Aug. 18, the Bowie school board voted to pursue the charge against Kuecher.
Texas is a “one-party state,” meaning at least one party to a conversation must consent to it being recorded. Since Kuecher was not present for the conversation between Hale and Ragsdale, that would not apply in this case. Grisham’s argument, though, is that Kuecher never intended to record the district employees talking.
Grisham said he advised his friend and client not to worry, but Kuecher feared what would happen to him if convicted. On Aug. 21, Kuecher died by suicide at his home in Sunset, an unincorporated community south of Bowie.
Grisham said Kuecher left home that morning to go for a walk on a wooded portion of his property. Kuecher and his wife talked and exchanged text messages at various points that day, said Grisham, before Kuecher went silent. His body was later discovered along with a suicide note, Grisham said.
When asked why Kuecher might have done something so drastic, Grisham said he was under intense pressure because of the criminal case, worried that he’d be separated from his wife and family. According to Grisham, Kuecher didn’t believe he could get a fair trial in Bowie if it went that far.
“It’s a ‘good ol’ boy’ system, and he’s not a good ol’ boy,” said Grisham.
Statement from the Bowie school district
The Star-Telegram reached out to Hale and Ragsdale but did not immediately receive a response. The district’s legal counsel, Eichelbaum, Wardell, Hansen, Powell and Muñoz, P.C., shared the following statement:
“In light of questions raised regarding charges previously filed by the District against Mr. Kuecher, the Bowie Independent School District Board of Trustees and Administration followed the law in all respects. Despite current claims to the contrary, there was credible evidence to show criminal conduct by a violation of law, which was reviewed by law enforcement and the District Attorney’s office. The Bowie ISD Board of Trustees followed the procedures outlined by the District Attorney’s office to have charges filed for criminal conduct.
“All available information indicated the District, its officials, and staff were the victims of a crime. Unfortunately, the District cannot prevent misinformation and the spin being circulated by those who want to attack the District. Regardless of the ongoing false accusations, Bowie ISD extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Justin Kuecher. Our thoughts remain with his friends, family, and loved ones during this difficult time.”
At the Aug. 26 Bowie school board meeting, Grisham confronted the district’s trustees.
“What I do know is that you guys have blood on your hands,” Grisham told them. “My client Justin is dead. My client Justin committed suicide because he was facing a bogus felony charge from this board.”
Grisham told the Star-Telegram he is considering legal action against the school district on behalf of Kuecher and his family, but that he was still gathering facts before doing so.