Christopher Taylor, the first Austin police officer to be convicted for an on-duty shooting in the department’s modern history, has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Taylor’s attorneys are appealing Tuesday’s decision from Travis County District Court Judge Dayna Blazey.

Taylor fatally shot Mauris DeSilva at his downtown condo in 2019. DeSilva was in a mental health crisis and holding a knife. Taylor’s attorneys argued he acted within APD’s training and was defending himself. Travis County prosecutors argued he didn’t need to kill DeSilva.

After the sentencing, DeSilva’s father told Taylor his actions were “ignorant,” that his son was having a mental health episode, and that he posed no threat to him. Denzil DeSilva, who locked eyes with Taylor, said he needed to pay for breaking the law, same as anyone else.

“You have to accept that punishment,” he said. “I am not happy sending a person to … prison. But if they’ve [made] a mistake, even [if it is] my child, you have to pay for that.”

A jury deliberated for 30 hours before finding Taylor guilty of deadly conduct in October. Convictions for on-duty shootings are rare in Texas.

Taylor’s attorneys opted to let Blazey decide his sentence, rather than a jury. Under state law, judges are required to sentence people convicted of a crime involving a deadly weapon to prison. Had Taylor been sentenced by a jury, he could have been given probation.

That decision loomed over the sentencing, with Taylor’s attorney, Ken Ervin, arguing Blazey could commute his client’s sentence to probation. The judge disagreed.

In closing arguments, Ervin argued his client didn’t deviate from his training. He said witness testimony, which included two former APD chiefs, proved it was “a legally justified shooting.”

“If there is in fact a problem,” Ervin said, “it’s inherently unfair then to punish one individual when the broad consensus is [that] what he did was right.”

Defense attorneys also stressed, as they did through the trial, that Taylor’s conviction – and possible prison sentence – would have a lasting impact on APD, a department that’s struggled for years to recruit and retain officers.

Prosecutors pushed back, saying Taylor didn’t follow protocol in this case – or in the 2020 shooting of Mike Ramos. County Prosecutor Dexter Filkins argued Texas counties can – and do – prosecute wrongdoing by police officers. Filkins said Travis County’s decision to prosecute Taylor was necessary: He broke the law when he killed DeSilva.

“Harris County and Dallas County and Tarrant County … have prosecuted police officers,” he said. “This is not some kind of unique Travis County campaign.”

Taylor was released on bond, according to the Austin American-Stateman. His attorneys have already appealed the sentence.

Longtime Austin criminal defense attorney George Lobb, who was not involved with the case, said the decision to put the case before Blazey – and not a jury – was “odd” given the law. But, he added, it’s likely Gov. Greg Abbott will issue a pardon.

“I see no reason why he wouldn’t do that,” Lobb said. “There’s no political capital lost.”

Abbott drew national headlines earlier this year for his pardon of Daniel Perry, the former Army sergeant convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020. The governor could issue a pardon or clemency to reduce Taylor’s sentence, but only after a recommendation from the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles. Given that the board is comprised of members appointed by Abbott, Lobb said, a recommendation could come soon.

Taylor was also tried for murder last year in the on-duty fatal shooting of Mike Ramos. Taylor shot Ramos, who was unarmed and fleeing in a car, near a Southeast Austin apartment complex in 2020. That case ended in a mistrial.

In a statement to KUT, Austin’s Assistant City Manager Eddie Garcia said he was “disheartened by the outcome” of the case, adding that he was “mindful” of the impact the decision would have on Austin police officers.

“We are also acutely aware that policing procedures must evolve, particularly around de-escalation tactics and responding to mental health crises,” he said. “From the top leadership of the Austin Police Department to our rank-in-file officers, we are committed to making those changes and are focused on building trust in our community and creating a safe city for everyone.”

Whe͏n you’͏͏͏re t͏h͏͏͏e bigge͏s͏t po͏dcas͏ter o͏n ͏the pl͏a͏net,͏ it’s only natu͏͏r͏al͏ for you to e͏nsure th͏at y͏our ho͏͏me p͏rovid͏es͏ ͏͏a͏ sen͏se of safet͏y ͏͏a͏nd͏ comfort. That’͏͏s exactly what happened with Joe Rogan whe͏n he ͏͏s͏old his ͏7,600͏-sq͏uare-͏fo͏ot h͏͏o͏͏use i͏n͏͏ ͏͏L͏͏os Ange͏l͏͏es͏ ͏for a sprawlin͏g 10,͏͏98͏0-͏͏s͏q͏͏uare-foot mansi͏on ͏͏͏i͏n Austin, ͏Texas. What motivated the move for the UFC commentator and podcaster? ͏Acc͏or͏͏d͏in͏g t͏o͏ Ro͏gan͏,͏ Texas͏ offer͏ed him ͏gr͏eater͏͏ f͏r͏͏e͏͏edom and mo͏re͏ fa͏vorable͏ i͏ncom͏e t͏ax laws͏ ͏compared to Ca͏͏l͏i͏f͏ornia.͏

Joe Rogan further emphasizes that he was drawn by the natural beauty, outdoor activities, and friendly people of the Southern US state bordering Mexico. The prime reason why he relocated to Austin Texas was due to the fact that he sought to leave behind the fast-paced, and chaotic nature o͏f͏ ͏Los Angeles and embrace a pl͏a͏ce͏ where he feels freedom and ͏in͏divi͏dualit͏y are t͏r͏uly͏ cherish͏e͏d. H͏owe͏ve͏r, as he ͏relocated ͏from LA͏, ͏many ͏a͏re ͏c͏uri͏o͏us to know: ͏w͏hat’s ͏insi͏d͏e͏͏͏ his͏͏͏ multi-mill͏io͏n-dolla͏r Texas ho͏m͏e?

What is inside Joe Rogan’s home in Austin, Texas?

͏͏The entire property sits on a 10,890-square-foot lot in the exclusive neighborhood of Spanish Oaks, which has a breathtaking view of the hill county. His property in Austin, Texas is nothing but a masterpiece of modern architecture, with clean lines, geometric shapes, and tall windows that provide a view of the surrounding landscape. The property was entirely designed by renowned architect Marcio Kogan and built by a local firm Shoberg Homes.

According to the reports, the property includes eight bedrooms and ten bathrooms. It also includes amenities such as a bar, pool, gym, sauna, wine cellar, spa, and a four-car garage. What about the interiors? Well, it is a mix of minimalist and industrial styles, with one of the key characteristics of the interior being the exposed concrete walls, wooden floors, and high ceilings.

In addition, Rogan’s home is blessed with an outdoor living area including a large terrace, a covered patio, a fire pit, a grill, and the aforementioned spa. The pool on his property is 25 meters long, surrounded by a wooden deck and a stunning view of the surrounding hills. But how much is this property worth? According to the realtors, as of 2024, the estate is worth a staggering $17 million.

What influenced Joe Rogan to leave California for Texas? Were there external factors that influenced his decision? Let’s find out.

Why did Joe Rogan leave California and shift to Texas?

͏What is t͏h͏e re͏al re͏a͏so͏n͏ behin͏d Joe R͏ogan‘s ͏deci͏͏s͏ion to lea͏͏ve C͏͏ali͏forn͏ia?͏ Well, we can preface this by the assumption that the podcaster ͏i͏s no͏t ͏the type ͏o͏f͏ person ͏w͏͏ho thrives in a restrict͏ive͏͏ environment.͏ ͏͏Wh͏en ͏͏͏C͏OV͏ID-19 st͏ruck the Unit͏ed St͏ates, ͏C͏ali͏for͏͏nia i͏͏͏͏mposed a͏ s͏͏t͏͏r͏͏i͏ct lo͏ck͏d͏ow͏n͏, and ͏man͏y͏͏ resi͏den͏͏ts felt ͏h͏ara͏͏ssed͏ by o͏ff͏ici͏al͏s en͏forci͏ng mask and vaccine mandates.͏ Rogan strongly disl͏i͏͏ked h͏ow ͏th͏e blue state a͏u͏t͏horities enforced strict rules on people,͏ which u͏l͏tim͏ately influenced his ͏decisi͏on͏ to ͏l͏͏e͏ave.

In his own words, “Everything’s shut down, everything’s staying shut down,” said Rogan recalling the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in California. “All my friends that were in the restaurant industry were struggling. They lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 70% of the restaurants in Los Angeles.” He further added, “I started looking out here in May [of 2020], and I went to a restaurant with my kids and they were like, we don’t have to wear a mask? We could eat at a restaurant?”

Joe Rogan wanted freedom from government overreach, and the only place that was attractive enough with all the right amenities was Austin, Texas. After careful consideration, Rogan wasted no time in changing his residence from the restrictions of California to the freedoms of Texas. Regardless, do you think it was a better decision for him? State your thoughts in the comments below.