Jury Finds Jeffrey Nicholas Incompetent to Stand Trial in Deputies' Deaths

SAN ANGELO, TX — A Tom Green County jury on Tuesday found Jeffrey Nicholas, 32, incompetent to stand trial for the capital murder of two Concho County sheriff’s deputies and the aggravated assault of a City of Eden employee.

Nicholas is accused of fatally shooting Deputies Stephen Jones and Samuel Leonard on his property in Eden in May 2021. The deputies were responding to a call about aggressive dogs reportedly terrorizing the neighborhood. When they arrived, Nicholas allegedly ordered them off his property before opening fire. A third person, City of Eden employee Ronnie Winans, was shot in the stomach when a bullet penetrated the door of a city truck. He survived.

The charges against Nicholas include two counts of capital murder of a peace officer and one count of aggravated assault on a public servant. The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation.

Court officials said Nicholas will likely be transferred to Vernon State Hospital for mental health treatment.

The mental competency trial marked a rare proceeding in Tom Green County. Typically, a single psychological evaluation is conducted and both sides agree on the outcome, allowing a judge to make a ruling. In this case, however, the state’s evaluation found Nicholas competent, while the defense's expert concluded he was not. To resolve the conflicting opinions, a jury trial was ordered.

A jury of 12, plus two alternates, was seated Monday. The state ultimately agreed with the defense's evaluation early Tuesday afternoon, leading to the court ruling Nicholas incompetent to stand trial.