The Investigations Division is comprised of two unique teams – Investigators and Evidence – that work closely in support of all the other divisions within the office in matters related to investigations and evidence. This division works daily with law enforcement, defense attorneys and the public to ensure compliance with all local and state laws, evidence and the discovery process.
The Investigative team of the Investigations Division is made up of 5 criminal investigators who are certified peace officers as defined in Chapter 2.12 TX CCP. Investigators are assigned throughout the office and perform traditional law-enforcement activities in support of criminal, civil and juvenile cases being prosecuted by the County Attorney's Office. These activities may include follow-up of criminal cases filed by any of the 28 Williamson County law enforcement agencies conducting formal investigations, tracking witnesses, ensuring that all witnesses/evidence required to prosecute cases is present when required in court and participation in various County, State and Federal working groups or Task Forces.
An Investigator must have at least 5 years law enforcement experience and hold at least an Advanced Peace Officer License from the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement. Many of the County Attorney Investigators have specialized training in Forgery & Question Documents, Identification Officers, Firearms Instructor and TCOLE Instructors.
The Evidence team consists of 4 individuals who are responsible for receiving, logging and disseminating, upon request, all types of evidence from paper documents to audio/video items for all cases types prosecuted by the County Attorney’s office. This division handles all inquiries regarding discovery for any criminal case type for the County Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts as well as Juvenile cases.
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Melissa Hightower
Chief Investigator
Juvenile Crimes
mhightower@wilco.org
B.S. Centre College of Kentucky, 1991
Master Peace Officer License, 2005
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Investigators
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Evidence
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Rudy Gonzalez
Deputy Chief Investigator -
County Court 1
rgonzalez@wilco.org
A.A.S. Temple College
Master Peace Officer License, 2007
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Jeannette Liu
Evidence Director
jliu@wilco.org
B.A. University of California, San Diego, 1998
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Mark Huard
Investigator - County Court 2
mark.huard@wilco.org
B.A. Hardin-Simmons University, 1986
Master Peace Officer License, 2006
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Michael Etheridge
Evidence Technician
jetheridge@wilco.org
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John McKinney
Investigator - County Court 2
jdmckinney@wilco.org
B.A. University of Texas, 2004
Master Peace Officer License, 2014
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Corey Smith
Evidence Technician
coreysmith@wilco.org
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Blake Plueckhahn
Investigator - County Court 3
bplueckhahn@wilco.org
B.S. University of Texas, 1986
Master Peace Officer License, 1999
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Rhetta Sanders
Evidence Technician
rsanders@wilco.org
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