Travis County DA faces renewed ‘soft on crime’ criticism after career criminal charged with murder

A Texas-based career criminal with a lengthy criminal record is behind bars in Travis County after being accused of killing a father of five outside a 7-Eleven in Austin, reigniting scrutiny of Travis County District Attorney José Garza and what critics call his questionable prosecutorial record and “soft on crime” approach.

Caleb Anthony Jenkins, described by police as a career criminal, was charged with murder in connection with a shooting that left a 25-year-old father dead outside a 7-Eleven last year. Jenkins allegedly shot the victim and walked away, according to Austin police.

But critics argue the murder may have been preventable. Garza’s office had previously dismissed or declined to prosecute three separate weapons charges against Jenkins for incidents dating back to 2022. As Fox News reported, Garza was also arrested on domestic violence charges in 2023 and failed to appear in court. He was recently arrested again and released after his bail was increased.

Taken together, the developments have intensified public criticism of Garza, the Democratic district attorney backed by liberal megadonor George Soros.

Garza, who was elected Travis County Prosecutor with no prior experience as a prosecutor, has faced criticism from police advocacy groups and victims’ families since taking office. They accused him of deliberately moving slowly in some cases and adopting lenient sentencing policies.

The criticism has generated national attention in past years. In 2023, the family of 25-year-old Doug Cantor, who was shot and killed in the mass shooting at 2021 Sixth Avenue in downtown Austin, criticized Garza for moving slowly through the gunman’s trial.

Family members told Fox News Digital in an interview they believed at the time that Garza was putting the case “on the back burner.”

“It’s very clear that his focus and attention is not on this case,” Nick Kantor told Fox News Digital in an interview marking the two-year anniversary of his brother’s death and how Garza became involved. was widely criticized He took up the cause for soft-on-crime policies.

AUSTIN DA GARZA CAUSED CONFUSION WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMPENDING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MULTIPLE POLICE OFFICERS

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza poses in front of the Austin skyline in a portrait from the county website. Garza has faced criticism over accusations that he aggressively prosecuted police officers accused of misconduct while being lenient on career criminals. (Travis County Prosecutor’s Office Website)

“He’s doing things that are clearly troubling to the case, to the overall outcome of the case, and to getting justice for my brother,” Kantor said.

Families of other victims spoke of similar behavior by Garza’s office in interviews with Fox News Digital.

While overall reported crimes have decreased in Travis County, opponents argue that firing rates are “political” and could further jeopardize public safety.

President Dennis Farris said, “It appears that Garza has now become an advocate for the offender rather than the victim.” Austin Police The Retired Officers Association previously told Fox News Digital.

“The prosecution is acting more like a defense attorney than a prosecutor,” Farris said he said in an interview Nearly a year after Garza took office. “Whatever his distorted view of what criminal justice reform is, it doesn’t work. It certainly doesn’t work for the victims.”

CRIME EXPERTS REPLY TO SOROS, WHO DEFENDS SUPPORT FOR DAS, PROGRESSING IN THE CRIME WAVE: ‘DISTORY’

US investor and philanthropist George Soros gives a speech on the sidelines of the 2022 World Economic Forum in Davos. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

“In the past, they would engage the victims before offering plea bargains. Now it looks like they don’t even do that, because they don’t even communicate with them, and that’s what leads to the re-victimization of these families.”

Current and former local law enforcement officials have criticized Garza’s actions and alleged “war on cops” after the Soros-backed district attorney campaigned to charge officers and “reimagine” policing in Austin.

Soros contributed $652,000 to the Texas Justice and Public Safety PAC in the months leading up to the 2020 Travis County District Attorney election, according to campaign finance records.

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As Fox News reported, the same PAC spent almost $1 million on digital and mail ads to help Garza’s campaign.

The Travis County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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