October 15, 2026 - The 273rd judicial District Court in Shelby County with the honorable Judge Jim Payne presiding was presented with 52 cases on the docket for Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Four of those defendants who were present were one Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Deputy, Angela Neal; and three Shelby County Sheriffs Department Jailers, Philip Youngblood, Jayne Scharnberg, and Andrew Valadez.
All were indicted on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with the jailers being equally indicted for manslaughter, felony 2; tampering with a government record, state jail felony; violation of civil rights of person in custody, felony 3; and official oppression, misdemeanor a.
Neal was indicted for official oppression; aggravated perjury; and tampering with a government document.
During the hearing held on Thursday, Neal approached the judge’s bench with her attorney Annie Northcutt entering a plea of not guilty and filing two motions, one to sever her cases from that of the other accused parties, as well as a motion to quash.
In referring to the motion to sever Judge Payne said, “not at this time.” The motion to quash was filed attached to the aggravated perjury charge, and Judge Payne did not rule on that motion either.
Youngblood and Scharnberg approached the bench separately with their attorney, Stephen Shires, and entered pleas of not guilty.
Valadez was also present; however his attorney Matthew Morian was absent at that time, and Shires stepped in to facilitate Valadez plea of not guilty.
All involved received charges surrounding the death of Jamie Perry while in custody at the Shelby County Jail on July 19, 2026.
Separate from the above cases, Perry's sister, Vicky Perry Sneed filed a lawsuit on October 1, 2026, seeking removal from office Sheriff Gerald Corbell and Chief Mike Hanson alleging incompetence and/or official misconduct as found in the Texas Local Government Code 87.013.
The petition alleges that Sheriff Corbell and Chief Hanson, through their positions, should also be held accountable and not only the jailers and deputy.
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