John Young Takes the Stand in His Own Defense

SAN ANGELO, TX -- John Stacy Young took the stand in his theft, forgery and money laundering trial Friday in his own defense.  

The 57-year-old attorney from Sweetwater who practices in San Angelo and was a member of the Tom Green County Bar Association in 2012 is accused with Ray Zapata of forging the handwritten will of John Sullivan, who was charged with online solicitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.  

The state rested its case Friday morning after Sellers finished his cross examination of the state’s Stephen Thompson.  

Then it was the defense’s turn.  Their first witness was John Young himself.  Young answered questions about the paper trail and money from the Sullivan estate and the flurry of phone calls the day Sullivan was found dead by Ray Zapata.  

The defense then took Young off the stand and called Mike Gougler.  Gougler is the former chief polygrapher for the Department of Public Safety in Austin.  Sellers said Gougler has worked with John Young on 16 cases and knew him to be a good person.  

Once Gougler was cross examined by prosecutors, he was dismissed.  

The defense again called Young to the stand and he answered questions about the will and the money trail and Ray Zapata.  Young said he had no knowledge of where the $167,500 went after he paid it to Chris Hartman.  

The trial was set to move to a smaller courtroom on Monday, but there was a scheduling conflict so the trial will resume at 9 a.m. Monday morning in courtroom A on the second floor of the Tom Green County courthouse.  

Defense attorneys passed the witness late Friday, so Monday morning, prosecutors will begin their cross examination of John Young.