Trial of Man Accused of Shooting Officer Begins Next Week

The man who allegedly shot and blinded Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputy Calvin “C.J.” Lehmann is scheduled to go to trial beginning next week in Bellville.

Shazizz Mateen, 53, faces six counts of aggravated assault against a public servant for an incident that took place on Nov. 1, 2018. The case has been delayed in court, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jury selection has been set for Friday, August 5, with the trial scheduled to begin on Monday, August 8.

District Judge Jeff Steinhauser signed an order on June 8 changing the venue from Fayette County to Austin County in an effort to ensure a fair trial. The case has attracted much attention, especially among supporters of local law enforcement. Lehmann has been the subject of several news stories and television interviews. In 2019, he received the Star of Texas Award, which recognizes first responders who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

According to police reports from the Nov. 1, 2018 incident, La Grange Police Officers attempted to arrest Mateen that day for failure to register as a sex offender. Mateen allegedly attacked one La Grange officer with a knife before barricading himself inside a room at the Carter Motel. Lehmann assisted La Grange officers in entering the room to arrest Mateen. But Mateen allegedly fired at them with a shotgun, striking Lehmann in the face. That led to an hours-long standoff involving dozens of officers from surrounding agencies before they brought Mateen into custody. Lehmann, 32 at the time, suffered serious injuries and lost his eyesight. The injuries ended his career as a patrol deputy.

The episode unfolded as La Grange was holding its annual Trick-or-Treat on the Square, which was rescheduled for the day after Halloween that year due to rain.