Less than 24-hours after being fired by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg over his “conduct” and “judgment” in a Harding Street murder case, Coby Leslie is firing back.
“I was fired because I was openly critical of how Jules Johnson, the civil rights division head, and Kim Ogg were mishandling the Gallegos case,” Leslie said.
The prosecutor sent KPRC 2 Investigates a lengthy statement Tuesday afternoon that countered the image painted by Ogg in a press release.
Claims of Leslie’s actions and his abrupt departure are cited as the reason that her office dismissed a murder charge against HPD Officer Felipe Gallegos.
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“They had to dismiss the case because they were too incompetent and too inexperienced to know how to prepare a case like that for trial, and too arrogant to listen to people who did. It has absolutely nothing to do with questions of judgment,” Leslie said.
Attorney Rusty Hardin, along with other attorneys representing HPD officers tied to Harding Street, went up against the DA’s office in court on Wednesday.
Outside of court, Hardin questioned the firing and the way the DA’s office was publicly portraying their former prosecutor.
“I’m not willing to concede this prosecutor and I’m not willing to throw him under a bus the way they are,” Hardin said.
Hardin also highlighted the stunning firing, asking for the DA’s office to prove their reasons for it.
“I don’t know of anything this guy did wrong. Maybe there is something we don’t know. Let’s just let the light shine in and find out,” Hardin said.
Hardin says he will get that opportunity in late September as Judge Frank Aguilar set a hearing to address the claims made by the DA’s office.
The DA’s office admitted they are now examining cases tied to Leslie.
“We are reviewing all pertinent cases,” said David Mitcham, the first assistant in the DA’s office.
Leslie tells KPRC 2 Investigates Ogg has worked closely with prosecutors because this is a priority case.
“Kim Ogg was completely involved in every decision made on the case, so my personal judgment was not a factor at all.”
The DA’s office says they are planning to present a murder charge against Gallegos to another grand jury in the near future.
Hardin says his client is not only prepared but ready to testify.
