Government

Texas ADA Arrested After Allegedly Threatening To Shoot Roommate Following Porn-Streaming Dispute

This is one of the more embarrassing ways for an attorney to face the prospect of losing their job.

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XXX-rated movie sign pornographyYou (allegedly) wouldn’t like this Texas ADA when he’s angry — about porn.

This past weekend, Travis County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Francis Frederick III was arrested after he allegedly pointed a gun at his roommate following an argument that reportedly started because the lawyer was having difficulties streaming pornography on a TV. CBS Austin has additional details from the arrest affidavit:

The incident allegedly started when Frederick, who was having trouble streaming porn on a TV, woke the man up to ask for help.

After the man fixed the TV issue, Frederick accused him of flirting with a guest who had been in their home earlier. The affidavit states an argument ensued, and when the man tried to leave, Frederick attempted to force his way into the man’s locked bedroom, damaging the door.

The affidavit says when the man later opened the door to use the bathroom, Frederick was in the hallway aiming a silver revolver at him. Frederick later allegedly raised the gun to the man’s face and said “I’ll shoot you.” The man began recording the incident, and police say the video shows Frederick holding the revolver and angrily telling the man to leave.

Frederick was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony.

Ty Cardenas Wittenstein, a local defense attorney who previously worked as a prosecutor with the Travis County DA’s Office, told CBS that she “can’t imagine [Frederick] being allowed to keep his job, unfortunately.”

She says aside from the embarrassment, the biggest blow to the DA’s office will be the strain this adds to the workload.

“Not only are they losing a prosecutor, but they’re losing one of the more experienced ones, and so that in and of itself is devastating to a prosecutor’s office,” Wittenstein said.

She went on to say that Frederick’s situation “is really unfortunate, and really sad for everyone involved.”

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The DA’s office said it is reviewing the case, but did not have any additional comment.

Affidavit: Travis Co. assistant DA arrested after dispute over streaming porn [CBS Austin]

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on X/Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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