Texoma Veterans Court Celebrates Fifth Graduate

Abbie Maynard

February 23, 2018

SHERMAN, Tex. (KXII) -- The North Texas Regional Veteran's Court celebrated a milestone on Friday when its fifth graduate completed the program since its founding in 2016.

The regional veterans court serves Grayson, Fannin, Collin, Kaufman and Rockwall counties.

It takes veterans out of the traditional criminal justice process and provides them with treatment solutions, supervision and mentors.

Friday's graduate Richard Ress is an Army veteran.

Ress went into the program after getting a DWI. He said graduation marks a new beginning. "It brought me out of a place that I thought I was alone in, it put me in good company when in times I thought I was alone, so I appreciate that," Ress said. "I really do."

Veterans must be general or honorably discharged from the military and have a proven mental illness linked to the crime the committed to qualify for Veterans Court.

Interested veterans should tell their lawyers to contact the courthouse.