LG Man Freed After Hung Jury

Shawn Patrick Childers was released from the Washington County Jail last week after the prosecution declined to re-try him for the 2018 Burton Bank Robbery. The trial against Childers, 55 of La Grange, ended with a hung jury on Oct. 12. Seven of the 12 jurors voted to acquit. He had faced three counts of aggravated robbery, one for each of the three tellers whom the robber threatened with a gun.

“The 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office has made the decision to not move forward again on the Shawn Patrick Childers trial,” Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken told the Record last Thursday, Oct. 20.

“There is no other evidence or any new evidence that could be presented that was not presented in the first trial,” Renken added. “Therefore, we do not think a new trial would produce different results. Our heart goes out to the victims in this case and hate that justice has not been obtained.”

Renken thanked law enforcement who worked on the case.

“We appreciate the years of hard work by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers in this case,” she said. “I personally appreciate the hard work of my entire office in this case.”