Ex-deputy found not guilty of assaulting his estranged wife
Defense says security tape shows Kelly Tillmon did not hit estranged wife
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A jury found former sheriff's office deputy Kelly Tillmon not guilty of assaulting his estranged wife last June.
The jury deliberated for almost two hours Wednesday afternoon before returning its verdict.
"The jury had a tough decision to make. They had a lot of material evidence to go through over a two-week period," said defense attorney George Filley III, who was assisted by Constance Filley Johnson.
"There was a lot of conflict of evidence and testimony. I feel that played into their decision, " he said.
Tillmon, 44, was charged with assault/family violence against his estranged wife, Irene Tillmon, stemming from a June 12 incident in a Walmart parking lot. He resigned from the sheriff's office after he was charged.
Kelly Tillmon testified Wednesday morning, giving jurors further insight into his relationship with his estranged wife.
After dating for almost 15 years, he explained how they ended up getting married.
"She just said if I was gonna be with her, it was gonna have to be the right way and we would have to get married," he said.
While on the stand, he also shared how he broke the news to Irene about his relationship to Brenda Garza.
"I explained to her that I wasn't in love with her," said the former deputy. "I told her if she wanted to stay there (in the house), I'd go down the street and stay with my brother."
He also gave his account of what happened at Walmart, describing the only time he said he touched Irene Tillmon.
"I picked her up and asked if she's OK," he said about the second incident in the parking lot. He said she had stumbled.
The first incident was a hair-pulling argument between Irene Tillmon and Garza.
The defendant said the 60-inch television, which was the basis for the confrontation, was a gift from Irene Tillmon to him.
Filley said showing jurors the video footage from the incidents positively impacted his case.
"We feel the tape we put into evidence that we originally obtained from the District Attorney's office was the clearest," Filley said. "When viewed on the large screen, (it) didn't show what the state thought it did nor did it bare out Ms. Tillmon's testimony in the case."
Filley said the bottom line of the trial was "(Irene Tillmon) started it and she was the loser in the fight,"
District Attorney Steve Tyler, who represented the state's case along with Assistant District Attorney Vanessa Heinold, shared his thoughts on the verdict.
"I don't second guess the jury. A lot of evidence was put up before them," Tyler said. "Both the defense and the state made good arguments."
Tyler defended the state's case.
"We filed in accordance to what we saw. Our final arguments reflect," Tyler said. "Ultimately, the jury was the final fact finder and they acquitted."
A civil lawsuit filed by Irene Tillmon against her estranged husband regarding the June 12 incident is still pending.
Kelly Tillmon was unavailable for comment and Irene Tillmon declined to comment.
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KCi, this was a misdemeanor charge, those don't go to a grand jury. The case went to the DA's office where they look at the case and then a warrant is issued if they see fit.
February 18, 2010 at 4:10 p.m.Seriously, can we delete all of Lane6's comments?!!
- Pure uneducated, irrational comments.
I bet you think O.J. is innocent as well. LOL
It's not "legal" to hit man/woman unless it's in self-defense, and PUH-LEASE!!!! do not tell me that this supposed 6 ft.+ "man" felt threatened by his ex-wife.
February 18, 2010 at 4:05 p.m.If you ask me, he brought it upon himself. He was with her for "X" number of years but "didnt want to get married," then WHY DID HE? He should've left long ago!
Tillmon for Sheriff
February 18, 2010 at 3:03 p.m.Lane6...your attack against the DA for "wrongfully charging" is unwarranted. The article states that the individual RESIGNED his position after he was charged. The DA does not "charge" individuals...law enforcement agencies do. The DA then takes the charges to a grand jury for an indictment....by the time an indictment was issued in this case the individual was long gone from the SO...he RESIGNED the day after he was charged, before the DA's office was even involved.
February 18, 2010 at 2:55 p.m.Right on John! Can we count on your vote? Tillmon for sheriff of Victoria!
February 18, 2010 at 1:53 p.m.The jury made the right decision...NOT GUILTY
February 18, 2010 at 1:14 p.m.bigmama if you saw Tillmon hitting, down grading, or any abuse done to her, you could of gone to the police, and made a statement about it all. That would of helped the case.
February 18, 2010 at 1:08 p.m.Tapes don't lie.
But, I do agree with you, that when you are a police officer, prison guard, etc.. If you work for the government, or the schools, a lot back you.
I was abused years ago, and things that was done to me was horrible. But, if you don't have proof, and no one else sees it, you are damned.
They will not believe you. So I understand. I wasn't allow to even have a phone the whole time I was married to that jerk. And woman do stay because, their lives are threatened, and the lives of their family.If you don't live under abuse, you never understand the abuse. So if you judge a woman or a man for staying when abuse is happening, you can't understand, until you have lived it yourself. But, I will say this, all that abuse, it does come home to them in many different forms.
My advice to woman that are still in an abusive relationship, and to men, find a safe way to get out. Don't let no one know you are leaving, or it will be hell. Find a really close friend that will support you, and not tell, but, help you. And get to the Woman's Crisis Center quickly. If you leave with nothing but, the clothes on your back, at least your safe, and so are your children. Get help, get out. The threats are just words to scare you, words to control you.I learned the hard ways.
lane6 i really cant tell you why she stuck around,and
February 18, 2010 at 12:37 p.m.again you are assuming they have been together for 25 years,not 15..you are so smart you i am sure you have heard the saying love is blind..you need to lay off the crack and sit down and really think about what you say. the shoe could have easily been on the other foot...
Stingaree: "I am for the lady everytime"??? What about the crazy chick in Houston that drowned her kids in the bathtub, are you for her because she's a lady? Thats why there is more than one person on a jury... no matter how twisted and sick one's since of justice is, they cannot find an innocent man guilty. Continue to keep them in line Officer Tillmon! Tillmon for Sheriff! I love TEXAS!
February 18, 2010 at 11:52 a.m.If he physically abused her, then why did they date for 15 years? If he was such a bad guy, why did she stick around? Why were charges not brought sooner? If he's guilty, present the evidence and the jury will agree. There was video of the alleged smacking and he was found innocent. Hurry for justice. I'm still not voting for TYLER.
February 18, 2010 at 11:50 a.m.If a sleezy, grubby confidential informant (whose victims are all women) is protected, this should be no surprise to anyone.
February 18, 2010 at 11:34 a.m.Forty five years ago, in another city, my dad was a good deputy sheriff. My mother's requests for restraining orders were turned down. He would intercept us kids on the way home from school and sit us down at an ice cream shop. While we had fun, he was on the phone making demands of my mother, threatening to keep us until they were met. On one court date, my dad's Masonic ring got him by the judge who was also a Mason. I am for the lady every time!!! Esp. when the man can flee!
February 18, 2010 at 11:31 a.m.Oh ya, what is DA Tyler doing bringing a case like this to trial? He should be held accountable for wrongfully charging Tillmon and costing him his job. The only way a DA can be held accountable for his injust decisions is at election time. He will not have my vote. Anybody but TYLER for DA.
February 18, 2010 at 11:24 a.m.BigMama, You obviously believe you know more than the jury. And yes, you do hit a woman if she keeps hitting, scratching, pulling hair and keeps coming back over & over after being restrained. Women do NOT get a free pass on being rebuffed if they do not act like a lady!
February 18, 2010 at 9:59 a.m.Bigmamma, I understand that you believe that Deputy Tillmon is guilty of a crime, but a jury of his peers, after hearing testimony from both sides of the case found him not guilty. He should be given his job back. Let's remember that just because a person's personal life is in chaos doesn't and shouldn't reflect on their professional life. Hopefully the parties involved can go on with their lives and leave each other alone!
February 18, 2010 at 9:55 a.m.He ought to, but I seriously doubt it. Tillmon's a good cop.
February 18, 2010 at 9:18 a.m.So does this mean he will get his job back at the sheriffs office???
February 18, 2010 at 8:58 a.m.Good thing there was video to back it up.
This is what should have happened. Everything played out the way it should have.
The state should have pursued charges....so that most people wouldn't claim that Law enforcement was protecting it's own.
And, when a woman is stlaking you, then threatens to damage your belongings with metal objects, she needs to know that she will not be able to cause an innocent person to go to jail simply because she feels humiliated.
Remember ladies.....No means No.....that goes both ways !
February 18, 2010 at 6:41 a.m.