Jury Selected, Up to Life In Prison Considered in Lehmann Shooting Trial

The Fayette County Record

Jury selection in the Shazziz Mateen trial began last Friday.

Mateen stands accused of shooting and injuring Fayette Sheriff’s Deputy Calvin “C.J.” Lehmann on Nov. 1, 2018, at the Carter Motel in La Grange. Lehmann lost his eyesight as a result of his injuries, which ended his career as a patrol deputy.

District Judge Jeff Steinhauser transferred the trial to Austin County in an effort to ensure a fair trial. The Austin County District Clerk’s Office reported that they called 350 potential jurors. About 100 showed up for jury selection last Friday. The attorneys narrowed the pool down to 12 jurors and four alternates. Those selected as jurors and alternates included sevenmen and nine women.The attorneys representing Mateen are Calvin Garvie and Patrice Carrington. Representing the State are attorneys Josh Somers and Andrew Rountree of the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Steinhauser informed the jury that Mateen faces possible punishment of five to 99 years or life in prison if convicted for the crime of aggravated assault against a public servant. Somers began questioning the jury pool by asking if any of them have heard of the case or knew anyone involved. None of the potential jurors said they knew about the case or any of the individuals associated with the case. Somers explained the elements of the case that he and Rountree will prove during the course of the trial: that on Nov. 1, 2018, the defendant Shazziz Mateen did intentionally, knowingly or recklessly cause serious bodily injury to Lehmann by shooting him with a firearm,and that Mateen knew Lehmann was a law enforcement officer.

Somers told the jury that the law does not require the prosecution to prove premeditation, motive or planning in this case. Somers said possible defenses include insanity, mistaken identity or self-defense. Somers said he expects to prove that none of those apply in this case.

Somers alluded to a possible insanity defense from Mateen’s legal team. Somers said that for the jury to acquit based on insanity, the defense would have to prove that The defendant has a mental disease or defect and that the disease or defect prevented the defendant from knowing their conduct was wrong.

Garvie spoke to the jury pool about the importance of presuming the defendant is innocent. He also said the jurors need to be able to place the government prosecutors and defense attorneys on a level playing field.

“Some people say that if you disagree with the State, that means you’re not patriotic,” Garvie said. “Does anyone here feel that way?” No one spoke up.

“I don’t want to ask this, but I have to ask,” said Garvie. “The officer is a white man and the suspect is black. Is there anyone here who can’t be fair and impartial because of that?”

Again, none of the potential jurors spoke up. “Thank you for that,” said Garvie.

One of the potential jurors said that his dad, his brother and a brother-in-law were all law enforcement officers. The man said he didn’t think he could be impartial. That man was not selected to be on the jury.

Steinhauser told the jurors that the trial could take most of this week. The prosecution will begin arguments on Monday.