Collin County Criminal District Attorney's Office

?? Happy Boss’s Day to our exceptional leader, DA Greg Willis! ?? Today, we celebrate not only your steadfast commitment to justice but also the genuine support and encouragement you show us every day. Your leadership sets the standard for our mission, and we’re proud to stand with someone who always prioritizes our community’s safety and well-being. Thank you for your vision, your trust in us, and for empowering us to be our best. Your dedication and integrity inspire us all to pursue justice and protect our Collin County community with passion and purpose. We are grateful for you! ?? #BossDay #Leadership #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty

?? Help us welcome Jill Moore to the team! Jill joins us as a Victim Assistance Coordinator. She comes to us with impressive and varied experience, all requiring excellent people skills—special education paraprofessional, pro sports team director of merchandising, private investigator, mother of four, and so much more. Jill’s expertise in working with people is already playing a significant role in her new position. We are lucky to have you on board, Jill. Welcome! #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty

??Congratulations to Wylie Detective Samuel Shipley on being honored with the 2024 DA Greg Willis SuperSleuth Award, one of only five recipients this year! In early 2023, Detective Shipley took on a challenging investigation involving a grandfather accused of abusing his two young granddaughters, who were sisters. Undoubtedly, cases involving child victims are difficult, but Det. Shipley did not let that deter him from seeking justice for them. His swift actions were crucial in preserving important DNA evidence that helped uncover the truth. After the arrest, Det. Shipley worked closely with prosecutors, preparing evidence and testimony for the trial, and successfully obtaining a confession from the defendant that was presented to the jury. Thanks to his relentless efforts, the jury sentenced the defendant to 82 years in prison. Let’s recognize Det. Samuel Shipley for his outstanding service with the Wylie Police Department, and his continued service to the community with the Allen Police Department. #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty

?? World Mental Health Day ?? On #WorldMentalHealthDay, we recognize the profound impact mental health has on our community. As your DA’s office, we are committed to protecting victims, bringing justice to offenders, and providing second chances for non-violent first-time offenders. By ensuring safety and supporting rehabilitation, we aim to create a healthier, safer community where mental well-being can thrive. Together, we can make Collin County stronger, one step at a time. ???? #WMHD2024 #MentalHealthForAll #MindfulOctober #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty

District Attorney Greg Willis' Office Secures 40-Year Sentence for Man Who Shot Uber Driver Six Times in Road Rage Incident District Attorney Greg Willis announced that Robert Crolley, 43, of Plano, Texas, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Causing Serious Bodily Injury. This follows a jury's guilty verdict. On March 3, 2023, Plano Police Department officers responded to multiple reports of gunfire at the intersection of Parker Road and Ranier Road around 12:50 A.M. Among the calls was a distressing plea from the victim: "I'm dying! I'm dying!" Upon arrival, officers found the victim—an Uber driver—barely conscious in the driver's seat, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He had just dropped off a passenger moments before the attack. The suspect had fled the scene. Plano first responders administered life-saving treatment, but the victim lost vital signs en route to Medical City Plano. Trauma surgeons managed to revive him, though he spent over three months in the hospital and continues to require ongoing medical care due to the severity of his injuries. Through diligent work, including multiple interviews with eyewitnesses and a review of surveillance footage from nearby businesses, Plano Police and its lead Detective Justin Duffy were able to identify Crolley as the shooter. Throughout the course of the investigation, Crolley told three different stories. Text messages retrieved from Crolley’s cellphone revealed that he told his roommate the next morning that he needed to hide his car in the garage because he was driving drunk and he thought an officer had followed him. When detectives interviewed Crolley soon after, he told the police that he was not out that night and that several other people often drive the car involved. Then, when Crolley was ultimately arrested on the charge, he called his roommate from jail and told him that he did shoot the victim, but it was in self-defense after the victim pulled a gun on him. He told the roommate he “should be fine if [he] can just convince a jury.” At trial, Crolley maintained his claim of self-defense, but there was no evidence that the victim ever brandished a firearm during the brief encounter, or would have even had the opportunity. The jury rejected Crolley’s self-defense claim and found him guilty. More at https://lnkd.in/gQD99_6p #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty

We’re excited to announce the promotions of Valerie Miller and Dixie Harden to Victim Assistance Coordinators! DA Willis recognized their dedication and growing expertise in victim services, and we’re confident they’ll continue to make a meaningful impact. Congratulations, Valerie and Dixie! #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty

For Week 3 of CPA, @CollinCountySheriff’sOffice Lt. Gann led a tour of the jail, affording a firsthand look at the environment and resources available to inmates. Assistant Chief Johnny Jaquess shared how the jail operates and stands out from other counties. Their approach to supervision focuses not just on security but also on rehabilitation. Two innovative programs are V.A.L.O.R. (Veterans Accessing Lifelong Opportunities for Rehabilitation), designed to assist veteran defendants in developing the necessary tools to enhance their well-being and successfully reintegrate into society, and S.C.O.R.E. (Sheriff’s Convicted Offender Re-Entry), which addresses each offender’s specific needs related to criminal behavior in order to increase their ability to successfully complete supervision. #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty #CitizenProsecutorAcademy

?? Join us in welcoming these ladies to the team! We are excited to have Melissa Smith join us as a Legal Secretary I, Rachel Shapiro as a Legal Secretary, and Maryann Greiss as Director of First Impressions. These ladies are self-motivated, dedicated, and have great communication skills. We're thrilled to have them on our team! ??Welcome aboard Melissa, Rachel, and Maryann! ?? #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty

District Attorney Greg Willis Announces Life Sentence for Father Who Attempted to Hang His 8-Year-Old Son Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis today announced that Kendall Thigpen-Watkins, 34, has been sentenced to life in prison for the attempted capital murder of his 8-year-old son. On June 23, 2023, McKinney Police received a 911 call from Thigpen-Watkins's wife, who reported that he had contacted her with threats to hang himself and their autistic son. At the time, the couple was undergoing a divorce, and Thigpen-Watkins was alone at home with their child. Responding officers arrived at the residence and attempted to communicate with Thigpen-Watkins, who initially indicated he would come out to speak with them. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to get him to exit the house, officers, concerned for the child's safety, decided to breach the front door. As officers entered the home, they witnessed Thigpen-Watkins jumping from the second-floor bannister while holding his son in his arms. Both were hanging from separate ropes tied around their necks. Officer Jason Ogburn immediately ran to the child, lifted him up, and was able to cut him down before he sustained life-threatening injuries. Officers Joe Mendez, Aaron Seymour, and Zachary Hamilton assisted and were also able to cut down Thigpen-Watkins. Thanks to the swift actions of the officers, the child suffered only rope burns to his neck and no internal injuries. Following the presentation of evidence, the jury found Thigpen-Watkins guilty of attempted capital murder. During the trial, witness testimony revealed that Thigpen-Watkins had admitted to stalking his ex-wife throughout the divorce proceedings, frequently appearing unannounced. These actions escalated, culminating in an incident where he pulled a gun and fired a shot at a third party. Presiding over the trial, Judge Angela Tucker sentenced Thigpen-Watkins to life in prison, the maximum sentence permitted by law. "Thanks to the swift and courageous actions of McKinney officers, this child's life was saved from a tragic fate at the hands of the very person who should have protected him," stated District Attorney Willis after the sentencing. "We hope that this life sentence brings justice and a sense of safety to the child and his mother as they begin the healing process." Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Ashlyn Scott and Dewey Mitchell prosecuted the case, with support from District Attorney Investigator Laurie Gibbs and Victim Assistance Coordinator Valerie Miller. https://lnkd.in/gS899pMY #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty

October is recognized as #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth, and our office is committed to bringing justice and protecting those affected by domestic violence. Please join us and let’s stand together against domestic violence! #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #EndDomesticViolence #PursuingJustice #ProtectingOurCommunity #CollinCountyDA #CollinCounty