We Found Out Where the Accused Capital Murderer Was Monday

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Accused capital murderer Nicholas Abel Rodriguez was not in the courtroom Monday at 3 p.m. when he was scheduled to appear before District Judge Jay Weatherby.  

It turns out Rodriguez was in the courthouse, just not the courtroom.  Sources inside the courthouse on Tuesday said Rodriguez’s appearances in court cause such a disruption that they no longer place him in a courtroom while other defendants are present.  

The source said Rodriguez was in the courthouse with his attorney and appeared before the judge, so he didn’t fail to appear.  He just wasn’t in the courtroom at from 3:00 p.m. to about 3:45 p.m.  I know.  I was there. 

To clarify what happened in Judge Weatherby’s courtroom Monday afternoon, there were four other defendants and their attorneys for plea hearings set for 3 p.m. in courtroom D on the first floor of the Tom Green County Courthouse, Judge Weatherby’s courtroom.  

Three plea hearings were held and disposed of.  A reporter from another local news outlet was in the courtroom sitting near me.  After the three plea hearings, the judge had a short conversation with his bailiff, who then went outside the courtroom.  He returned shortly and had another short conversation with the judge. I interpreted that to mean the judge had the bailiff look for Rodriguez and his attorney.  They were not there.     

Judge Weatherby then did something he’s never done before.  He pointed at me and said, “Mr. Green, why are you here?” I said I was there to cover the capital murder pretrial.  Judge Weatherby told me that it wasn’t happening today and he didn’t want me wasting anymore of my time.

I've known the judge for decades and I appreciate his actions taking the time to ask why I was there and then informing me that hearing wasn't going to take place. 

So, I left the courtroom and the courthouse under the impression that Rodriguez’s pretrial hearing had not taken place and would be rescheduled.  That is the story I wrote Monday.

As it turns out, according to the source, Rodriguez appeared before the judge for his hearing after all the other inmates were removed from the courtroom and after I left.  

Rodriguez did not skip out on his bond and that is not what I reported Monday.  Rodriguez did not appear in the courtroom between 3:00 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. when I left the courtroom after the judge told me the hearing was not going to happen.