HAYS COUNTY COURT
Devonte Amerson has had his charges dismissed without prejudice, which means that the charges could come back at a later date. Amerson was a defendant in the case related to the murder of 19 year-old Justin Gage in 2015. His codefendant Cyrus Gray had his charges dismissed in July of 2023.
According to Hays County documents, Amerson was arrested on March 5, 2018 and was released from jail in December of 2023. The original indictment from May of 2018, charged Amerson with Capital Murder, and the superseding indictment made on Dec. 11, 2024 charged him with Capital Murder, Murder, Aggravated Robbery and Burglary of a Habitation Intend Other Felony. Each charge was dismissed on April 29.
Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins said the case has been dismissed “pending further investigation.”
In a press release issued by Mano Amiga, Amerson’s attorney Chris Self disagreed with the merits of the case.
“This was a case based on sheer coincidence and built on illegally obtained evidence,” Self said. “Nothing can replace what DJ lost over the last several years, but I am grateful that the government finally saw this case for what it was and let it go after Judge Boyer granted DJ’s fourth motion for speedy trial.”
During a press conference held by Mano Amiga, Amerson’s attorney added that the case was dismissed without prejudice, so the state could come back with charges later. However, he said the fact that the case has been pending for a “long, long, long time” will be helpful as far as the ability to pursue dismissal for lack of a speedy trial.
“We’re in a good position as the reason for the delay will be on the government,” he said.
Amerson said, throughout his time in incarceration, he had to “humble” himself in “ways you wouldn’t believe,” including while being “stripped naked” and “treated like less of a man” during his time in jail.
“I refuse to be defeated,” Amerson said. “I refuse to be treated like less of a human than anyone else.”
Gray said it is important that the community thinks of others in a similar situation.
“We also need to think about everyone locked up right now, folks who don’t have lawyers, who don’t have advocacy groups in general fighting for them, who are just as innocent and just as deserving of a fair chance, but invisible to the system,” Gray said.
Pastor Darius Todd, who provided shelter and guidance to both Amerson and Gray throughout this process, spoke as well and pointed to Isaiah 1:17, which urges to defend the oppressed, as his reason for providing support.
“I pray for the Amerson family. I pray for the Gray family,” Todd said. “I pray for the Gage family because justice must be done.”
Eric Martinez, Mano Amiga executive director, said Mano Amiga would be launching a new initiative.
“We’re unveiling our People’s Budget Campaign,” Martinez said. “We’re advocating this year here and now that our Hays County Commissioners Court gear $20 million in social services to be able to fill the need that the federal government is pulling out of, that the state government is pulling out of, that they’re threatening to take away from you. You’ll be able to sign a digital petition that’s calling for $10 million plus to our public defender’s office, so we can have … adequate representation on the front end; so that few of our community members spend time needlessly incarcerated.”
Learn more about the case at this link sanmarcosrecord.com/article/23073,da-files-to-dis miss-murder-caseagainst-gray.
