Patrick Crusius’ trial possibly in jeopardy due to DA Yvonne Rosales

The Texas district attorney in charge of the high-profile trial of suspected El Paso Walmart shooter Patrick Crusius is facing legal trouble of her own amid accusations of incompetence.

El Paso District Attorney Yvonne Rosales is the subject of a petition to have her removed from office, as well as accusations of “official misconduct and continued incompetence,” the El Paso Times reported.

A complaint was filed by local defense attorney Omar Carmona with the El Paso District Clerk’s Office. He wants Rosales to have to go before a jury that would determine whether she should keep her job.

In the filing, Carmona accuses Rosales of “mishandling” the Walmart mass shooting case against suspect Patrick Crusius, who is accused of gunning down 23 people in August 2019. The 24-year-old from Allen, Texas, allegedly drove 9 hours to El Paso to shoot Hispanics. Crusius wrote in a racist manifesto that he believed Hispanics were “invading” the country and he feared they would become voters. Authorities believe Crusius cased the Walmart before he opened fire on shoppers.

Just this week, special prosecutor John Briggs, who was hired by Rosales to lead the trial against Crusius, was either removed or resigned from his post.

“Following recent events, a change was necessary. We wish Mr. Briggs the best,” Rosales’ office said in a statement to KFOX-TV.

The petition to remove Rosales also cites her dismissal of hundreds of pending criminal cases and accusations of “prosecutorial vindictiveness,” alleging she dismissed a murder charge last year.

“Allowing her to continue as District Attorney puts the public at risk and demeans the office,” the filing by Carmona stated.

Rosales said she intends to fight the petition in a statement provided to the El Paso Times.

“These types of attacks have taken place since the first day the first female District Attorney in the history of El Paso took office,” said the statement. “Never has there been so much hateful rhetoric or tactics used against any predecessor.”

She also said the petition undermined the will of the voters, who elected her to office in 2020, after long-time District Attorney Jaime Esparza retired.

Rosales is handling the state of Texas’ case against Crusius, which is a death penalty case. The feds have a separate case against the alleged mass murderer for hate crime charges that could begin in January 2024.