Governor Abbott Appoints Twelve To Texas Crime Victims’ Institute Advisory Council
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Shawn Kennington, Jeff Oldham, Gene Pack, JD Robertson, Andrea Sparks, and Hector Villarreal for terms set to expire on January 21, 2020 to the Texas Crime Victims’ Institute Advisory Council. Additionally, the Governor appointed Abigail Brookshire, Libby Hamilton, Joan Huffman, Scott MacNaughton, James White, and Erleigh Wiley for terms set to expire on January 31, 2021. The council is charged with conducting an in-depth analysis of the impact of crime on victims, close relatives of deceased victims, guardians of victims and society.
Shawn Kennington of Pittsburg is a Constable of Camp County and is also a dual licensed Funeral Director and Managing – Consultant with Erman Smith Funeral Home. He previously served as Mayor of the city of Pittsburg. He is a member of the Texas Municipal Police Association and the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association. He volunteers with the Camp County Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum Board, and the Pittsburg Rotary Club. Additionally, he is a member of the Funeral Service Education Program Board Advisory Committee at Northeast Texas Community College.
Jeff Oldham of Austin is the General Counsel to Governor Greg Abbott. He previously was a partner at Bracewell LLP and served as a law clerk to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court and to Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Additionally, he served as Counsel to the Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice. He is board certified in Texas in Civil Appellate Law and is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Oldham received an undergraduate degree from the University of Tulsa and a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law.
Gene Pack of Houston is CEO and Director of Power Pack Productions. He is a master level eighth degree black belt and was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. He volunteers judging martial arts competitions. Pack graduated from WO Boston High Lake Charles, Louisiana. Additionally, he received an honorable discharge from the United States Army.
JD Robertson of Wimberley is the Director of the Office of the Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. He has previously served as an adjunct lecturer at both The University of Texas at Tyler and Texas State University. Additionally, he was a Major and a Captain with the Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety. He is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association and the FBI National Academy Associates. Robertson received a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science in applied criminology from Texas A&M University Commerce.
Andrea Sparks of Austin is the Director of Governor Abbott’s Child Sex Trafficking Team. Previously, she held the position of Executive Director of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Texas Regional Office, and as the Director of Public Affairs and Director of Public Policy and Outreach for Texas CASA. Sparks received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Tulane University and a Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law.
Hector Villarreal of Alice is an assistant professor of criminal justice and Interim Site Director for Coastal Bend College and a reserve peace officer with the Kingsville Police Department. Previously, he served as a Senior Special Agent with Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and as a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent with U.S. Border Patrol. He is a volunteer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Knights of Columbus. Villarreal received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in criminal justice from Colorado Technical University. Additionally, he received an honorable discharge from the United States Army and Texas National Guard.
Abigail Brookshire of Midlothian is a student at The University of Texas at Arlington and pursuing a degree in psychology.
Libby Hamilton of Round Rock is the Victim Liaison for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. She is a committee member of the Association of Paroling Authorities International, Texas Victim Services Association, and Victim Services Coalition. She volunteers with Hope Alliance. Hamilton received a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from St. Edwards University.
Joan Huffman of Houston serves as the State Senator for District 17 and President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate, and is currently Chair of the Senate Committee on State Affairs and the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting. Senator Huffman previously served as Chief Felony Prosecutor, Special Crimes Gang Prosecutor, and Legal Counsel to the Organized Crime Narcotics Task Force for the Harris County District Attorney’s office. Prior to her election to the Texas Senate, she was twice elected Judge to the 183rd Criminal District Court in Harris County. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Child Advocates. Huffman received a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana State University and a Juris Doctor degree from South Texas College of Law.
Scott MacNaughton of San Antonio is a Sergeant Investigator in Bexar County assigned to both the Special Crimes Division and Major Crimes Division. He is a member of the Texas District & County Attorneys Association and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, where he serves on the Law Enforcement Committee. MacNaughton received a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Texas State University, a Master’s Degree in security studies from Angelo State University, and is currently completing a Master of Public Administration from The University of Texas at Tyler. Additionally, he also holds a Master Peace Officer Certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
James White of Hillister is Texas State Representative of District 19 and Chair of the Texas House Committee on Corrections. Previously, he served as a high school teacher in Woodville. He is currently an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the Texas Farm Bureau. White received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Prairie View A&M University and Doctorate in political science from the University of Houston. Additionally, he received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army, where he served as a commissioned Infantry Officer.
Erleigh Wiley of Forney is the Criminal District Attorney of Kaufman County. She is an executive board member of the Texas District & County Attorneys Association, member of the Kaufman County Juvenile Board, and a former member of the State Bar of Texas Child Abuse & Neglect Committee. She volunteers as a partner agency member with the Kaufman County Children’s Advocacy Center, and as a board member with the Kaufman County Children’s Shelter and previously with the Texas Health Resources in Kaufman. Wiley received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Texas Tech University and a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law.