Brown County Judge Charged After Allegedly Hitting County Attorney in the Head

BROWN COUNTY, TX — Brown County Judge Alan Shane Britton was arrested Monday on five felony charges, including allegations that he struck the county’s assistant attorney in the head during plea negotiations earlier this year, according to newly released indictment records.

Britton was booked into the Brown County Jail around 9:30 a.m. on November 24 on charges of Abuse of Official Capacity, Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, Tampering with a Government Document, Assault on a Public Servant, and Tampering with a Witness in a Family Violence Case. He was released about an hour later after posting $30,000 bond.

Indictment documents allege that in March 2024, Britton hit the Assistant County Attorney for Brown County in the head while she was speaking with defense counsel. Another allegation claims that in January 2024, Britton attempted to keep a family-violence victim from cooperating with prosecution by trying to persuade them to sign an affidavit of non-prosecution. Prosecutors say he also withheld warrants connected to the case.

Britton is further accused of concealing an arrest warrant for a suspect in January 2024, with the indictment stating the governmental record “was not destroyed pursuant to legal authorization.” Another charge alleges he helped a suspect avoid arrest by failing to sign a warrant required under his authority as county judge. A separate count claims that in December 2023 he violated state law by practicing as an attorney while serving as a public official.

The State Commission of Judicial Conduct issued an order of suspension for Britton on Monday, removing him from his position as county judge without pay.