AUSTIN, Texas — In issuing a full pardon to a former Army sergeant convicted of murder in the shooting death of an armed Black Lives Matter protester, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pushed a limited executive power to its absolute limit to get a desired outcome in a politically charged case. 

Abbott’s pardon this week of Daniel Perry, who killed Air Force veteran Garrett Foster at an Austin demonstration in 2020, satisfied prominent conservatives who had demanded Perry’s release and outraged prosecutors and the victim’s family. To critics, Abbott’s rush to wipe away the conviction also raised questions about how a governor might try to overturn a jury’s verdict in the future.

“He has declared that Texans who hold political views that are different from his and different from those in power can be killed in this state with impunity,” said Whitney Mitchell, Foster’s girlfriend who was with him at the protest when he was killed.

Texas law limits a governor’s power to issue pardons. It can be done only with a recommendation of the governor-appointed Board of Pardons and Paroles. Abbott, a three-term governor, has used his pardon authority sparingly over the past decade, typically granting only a handful every year for low-level offenses.

Perry’s case was far different from the seriousness of the crime to the politics involved.

Foster was killed amid the widespread demonstrations against police killings and racial injustice that followed the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer. Perry’s conviction in 2023 prompted immediate calls from state and national conservatives for a pardon for the off-duty soldier who claimed self-defense.

Abbott’s response was just as quick. Even before Perry was sentenced, the governor criticized the jury that convicted him and demanded the parole board conduct a “swift” review of the case.

The governor also left no doubt about his expected result. “I look forward to approving (a pardon) as soon as it hits my desk,” Abbott posted on social media.

The public release of Perry’s social media history and text messages just days later did not change Abbott’s determination. Prosecutors used Perry’s own words — including comparing Black Lives Matter protests to animals at a zoo — to portray him as a racist who may commit violence again.

When trial Judge Clifford Brown sentenced Perry to 25 years in prison, he didn’t mention Abbott’s call for a pardon, but said from the bench that the verdict “deserves our honor and it deserves to be respected.”

Geoffrey Corn, chair of criminal law at the Texas Tech University Law School, called Abbott’s early push for a pardon, criticism of the jury and partisan attacks on the elected Democratic district attorney who oversaw the case a blow to the public’s confidence in the judicial system.

“It’s almost on the verge of catastrophic,” Corn said. “We’re telling people that when somebody is tried in a jurisdiction that is predominantly Democratic and you’re a Republican, the result can’t be valid? And vice versa?”

Perry, who is white, was stationed at Fort Hood, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Austin, when the shooting happened. He was working as a ride-share driver and had just dropped off a customer when he turned onto a street filled with protesters. Foster, a 28-year-old white Air Force veteran, was legally carrying an AK-47 rifle.

Perry claimed he was trying to drive past the crowd and fired his pistol when Foster pointed a rifle at him. Witnesses testified they did not see Foster raise his weapon. Prosecutors argued that Perry could have driven away without shooting.

“Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive district attorney,” Abbott said in his pardon statement.

Yet David Kwok, director of the Criminal Justice Institute at the University of Houston Law Center, called jury nullification an important concept in justice.

“That is the power of the jury to push back against the force of government,” Kwok said.

Abbott had a long career in law before he was governor. He was an attorney and state district judge before he was appointed to the state Supreme Court, which decides civil cases. He then was elected state Attorney General and served three terms.

As governor, Abbott for years leaned into his legal and judicial experience when making political decisions, and was often criticized for being too deliberate and slow, said Cal Jillson, political science professor at Southern Methodist University.

“Abbott has changed a great deal over his 10 years,” as governor, Jillson said. “He has become much less judicial and much more political.”

More sweetness is set to come to Austin with the opening of more Shipley Do-Nuts stores.

According to the Austin Business Journal, the Houston-based chain signed deals for 61 new locations across Austin, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Lubbock, Amarillo and El Paso. Exact opening dates are not yet announced, but the journal said Shipley is preparing for rollout to begin in 2025.

It’s also unclear exactly how many shops will end up in Austin, but new sales vice president Jonathan Massey told the Austin Business Journal that six are in development with commitments set for 11.

More: Two Austin eateries make Yelp’s list of top 100 brunch spots in the country

Austin currently has 20 Shipley locations on William Cannon, Brodie Lane, West Parmer Lane and more. The chain boasts coffee, kolaches, cinnamon rolls and, of course, doughnuts of over 60 varieties, such as classic glazed, strawberry-filled and chocolate iced bullseye.

The expansion comes on the heels of management changes, as Shipley hired Massey and franchise recruitment director Fred Frey earlier this month, the journal reported.

Local owners Kipp and Brooke Koeppel say their reusable containment system is perfect for a growing city like Austin that is also concerned with environmental impact

AUSTIN, Texas, May 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Temporary Wall Systems (TWS), the first and leading full-service, temporary containment wall provider in the United States, will introduce its new Austin, Texas, location at the Austin Build Expo at the Palmer Events Center on May 22-23.

Temporary Wall Systems Austin owners Kipp and Brooke Koeppel will be on-hand at Booth 333 to give out information about the company and will offer a giveaway of a YETI 24 hard cooler.

“We’re excited about our new Temporary Wall Systems venture and look forward to bringing a cleaner, more efficient containment and abatement solution to the Austin construction industry,” Kipp Koeppel said. “Austin is a rapidly growing city, and there is a lot of construction and renovation as a result. Our system will allow businesses to safely expand and reinvent themselves while continuing to operate as usual and do it in a way that is better for the environment.”

The Koeppels moved to Austin in 2020 after spending several years in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple met while selling advertising at an Alabama newspaper. Kipp Koeppel then spent the next 15 years in the financial services industry in a variety of positions, including 401(k) recordkeeping, sales and relationship management.

Brooke Koeppel continued her work in sales before eventually moving on to staffing and then financial advisor recruiting for several large financial institutions.

In addition to their corporate jobs, the couple also invested in real estate and rental properties over the past 14 years, doing a lot of the renovation work themselves. It is with this experience that they saw a need in the market for reliable contractors with a focus on customer service.

After moving to Austin, the couple introduced The Brothers that just do Gutters franchise to the area and have since earned recognition as a “Best Place to Work” by the Austin Business Journal in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

“We love Austin’s unique vibe, plentiful outdoor activities, delicious food options and live music scene,” Brooke Koeppel said. “Opening another franchise in this community just solidified our commitment to invest in Austin and all it has to offer.”

The couple believes their experience in sales, marketing, recruiting, HR, accounting, operations, home improvement and social media will prove valuable in launching their TWS location.

Temporary Wall Systems Austin serves the greater Austin area including Buda, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Hutto, Kyle, Lakeway, Leander, Manor, New Braunfels, Pflugerville, Round Rock, San Marcos, and Spicewood.

TWS is part of HomeFront Brands, a family of emerging, franchised residential and commercial property service brands that offers integrated technology, data support, lead generation, business intelligence systems and training to its partners.

For more information about Temporary Wall Systems Austin, visit https://tempwallsystems.com/locations/austin/.

About Temporary Wall Systems

Founded in 2017 and franchised since 2022, Temporary Wall Systems (TWS) is the first and leading full-service, rentable containment wall provider in the United States. TWS offers commercial contractors and facilities managers a turnkey alternative to labor-intensive interim containment methods like drywall. Our customers benefit from clean and quiet business continuity during construction, renovation, or maintenance projects in healthcare, public transportation, education, retail, and commercial office facilities. TWS is a brand partner of HomeFront Brands, a platform company of emerging property service franchises. Explore the versatility of Temporary Wall Systems at https://tempwallsystems.com/.

About HomeFront Brands

HomeFront Brands empowers entrepreneurs to create thriving franchised residential and commercial property service brands. Driven by an experienced team of franchise executives and rooted in family values, HomeFront Brands helps emerging or established concepts accelerate their growth by delivering enterprise-level solutions to local business owners who aspire to build a dynasty and create generational wealth. By leveraging integrated technology, data-driven intelligence and advanced learning management systems, HomeFront Brands is building a foundation for its brands — Window Hero, The Designery, Temporary Wall Systems, Top Rail Fence and Yard Patrol Pros – to transform lives through franchise ownership.

For more information about HomeFront Brands’ current solutions, new business development, and franchising opportunities, please visit https://homefrontbrands.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
[email protected]

SOURCE HomeFront Brands