A Central Texas judge ordered the McLennan County District Attorney's Office to stop distributing pornographic photos and videos of a former Twin Peaks shootout defendant, whose case was dismissed this month.
As part of the discovery process, defense attorneys say District Attorney Abel Reyna's Office distributed the sexually explicit images of former Cossack Cody Ledbetter and his wife to attorneys representing the 177 Twin Peaks bikers. The “private, intimate sexual images," were obtained from Ledbetter's cellphone after he was arrested in 2015, according to his lawyer Paul Looney, who equated what prosecutors did by sending the images to "revenge porn." Looney claimed members of the DA's office committed misdemeanor offenses for every image or video they distributed. And, Looney said he would send notices to the 60 or more attorneys who received the images -- instructing them to destroy those photos and videos.
"It’s the first time in my practice that I have any knowledge of a judge having to order a District Attorney’s office to quit being criminal," Looney said in a press release. "The bizarre saga that has become Waco continues to reach new lows.”
McLennan County 54th State District Court Judge Matt Johnson issued the order for the DA's office to stop sharing the images. Judge Ralph Strother of the 19th State District Court said he would issue a similar order, according to Looney.
Channel 6 contacted a representative for the DA's office. This story will be updated if Reyna decides to comment.
“I am extremely grateful for any efforts that will assist this young couple in regaining their privacy,” Looney said.
Ledbetter is a 29-year-old diesel mechanic from Waco, who would have been the second person tried in connection with the Waco shootout that left nine dead, including his step-father: Daniel Boyett.