The Travis County District Attorney’s Office has moved to dismiss an evidence-tampering case against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and former Williamson County Attorney Jason Nassour, ending a prosecution tied to the 2019 death of Javier Ambler.
The dismissal comes nearly two years after Chody and Nassour went to trial on allegations they ordered the destruction of unaired footage from the television program “Live PD” that captured events surrounding Ambler’s death during a traffic stop and pursuit in March 2019.
The trial, which began in August 2024, was halted after a series of legal disputes over what evidence prosecutors could present to a jury. Central to the case was a pretrial ruling that found Chody and Nassour would not have been legally authorized to seize the footage because federal law protects journalists and news organizations from government seizure of unpublished materials.
Prosecutors appealed that ruling, arguing it prevented them from presenting a significant portion of their case. However, in May, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declined to review the matter, leaving the lower court’s decision in place.
As a result, Travis County prosecutors said they could no longer proceed.
“Our hearts continue to break for the Ambler family, who had to wait many years for any type of resolution in their son’s case,” Travis County District Attorney José Garza said in a statement. “Although we are disappointed that the Travis County District Attorney’s Office has been prevented from presenting evidence of guilt against Mr. Chody and Mr. Nassour to a Travis County jury, we respect the decision of the courts.”
Garza thanked investigators and prosecutors from both Travis and Williamson counties who worked on the case.
Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick also expressed frustration with the outcome, describing the dismissal as the result of legal rulings rather than a determination of the underlying facts.
“This case has deeply affected both residents of Williamson and Travis County, and most irreparably the Ambler family,” Dick said. “It is extremely frustrating when a case of this magnitude is resolved on a legal technicality rather than through a transparent presentation of evidence.”
Dick said the evidentiary rulings left prosecutors with “no viable path forward” and prevented the case from being fully presented to a jury. He said his office is exploring possible legislative changes and other legal remedies aimed at preventing similar outcomes in future prosecutions.
The dismissal brings an end to one of the most closely watched public-corruption cases in Central Texas. Ambler died after a traffic stop and pursuit involving Williamson County deputies in 2019. Public scrutiny intensified after revelations that footage recorded for “Live PD” existed but was later destroyed under the show’s retention policies.
While the criminal case against Chody and Nassour will not proceed, questions surrounding Ambler’s death and the handling of evidence remain a significant chapter in Williamson County’s recent history.
Williamson Reporter 