State District Court Judge John J. McClendon, III issued a gag order Wednesday in the ongoing criminal cases against James Holland, 39, and Debi Holland, 38.
The order said in part, “The Court strongly prohibits the release of any information to the new media or any other person requesting any material or reports.”
Mr. Holland was arrested on March 10 for continued sexual abuse of a child. He was accused of having sex with an underage girl who is related to murder victim Holli Jeffcoat, 18. Jeffcoat was found dead on February 10 in a Northeast Lubbock County Home.
As of Thursday no one was charged for the murder.
Court records said Jeffcoat made an outcry of sexual abuse just days before she was murdered. Court records said Jeffcoat, who had been assessed as a special needs student with the mind 6 or 7 year old child, said James Holland impregnated her.
Jeffcoat’s mother, Debi Holland, was also charged with continuous sexual abuse. Debi Holland was not accused of committing the abuse, but rather she was accused facilitating James Holland.
The gag order said, “During the course of these investigations there have been several news stories directly related to the two co-defendants.”
It also said, “The Court is of the opinion that the release of any reports, audio, video tapes or other information … could potentially cause grounds for a change of venue in the trials of these two defendants.”
The text of the gag order is copied below:
NEWS MEDIA GAG ORDER
On or about March 30, 2016, defendant James Holland was indicted by the Grand Jury of Lubbock County, Texas, for the offense of Continued Sexual Assault of a Child. Since the date of this indictment the Defendant’s wife, Debi Bryant Holland, has been arrested as a co-defendant on similar charges. During the course of these investigations there have been several news stories directly related to the two co-defendants. As a result, the Court ORDERS that those persons involved in the investigation, the prosecution, and the defense of this case refrain from further communication with all news media, including but not limited to, newspaper, print, electronic, television, and radio media regarding these cases or the co-defendants.
The Court is of the opinion that “communication” as referenced herein includes the distribution of information, including but not limited to, offense reports, witness statements, forensic reports, autopsy reports, video and/or audio tapes, Child Advocacy Center interviews and videos, and any other information that could be conceivably presented as evidence at the trials of either co-defendant.
The Court strongly prohibits the release of any information to the new media or any other person requesting any material or reports. Due to the fact that neither case has yet been tried, the Court is of the opinion that the release of any reports, audio, video tapes or other information in the possession of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, or the defense attorneys could potentially cause grounds for a change of venue in the trials of these two defendants.
This ORDER further applies to all members of the Lubbock County Sherriff’s Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Lubbock County Medical Examiner’s Office, Idalou Police Department, Lubbock Police Department and any other law enforcement agency that may have been involved or may become involved in this case. Be it so ORDERED this 4th day of May, 2016.