Our Team
David previously served as an attorney in the Beeville Office, where he represented clients in felony and misdemeanor cases. His work covered Lavaca, Bee, Refugio, McMullen, Live Oak, Duval, and Starr Counties. Prior to assuming the Executive Director position, he served as a Board Member since TRGPD's inception. David graduated cum laude from the University of Chicago School of Law. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Michael E. Baylson, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Honorable Joshua P. Kolar, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Before joining Texas RioGrande Public Defender (TRGPD), Sofia accumulated twelve years of valuable experience at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA). Commencing as a legal assistant, she swiftly ascended to the role of an investigator during her tenure at TRLA. Following eight years in that capacity, Sofia seized the opportunity to contribute to the executive management team at TRGPD.
In her current role, Sofia serves as an indispensable member of the team, specializing in training new attorneys and support staff. Her expertise extends to guiding them on the utilization of our client tracking system, navigating the intricacies of the payroll program, and addressing various administrative tasks. Committed to maintaining TRGPD's compliance and organizational efficiency, Sofia plays a crucial role in ensuring that our advocates can consistently deliver the highest quality of service.
Staci Krause graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Mary's School of Law, where she spent two years participating in the St. Mary's Law Journal. After law school, she worked as a criminal defense attorney in Bexar County, before making the leap into public defense in 2023. During her time in private practice, she was awarded the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association's Young Attorney of the Year in 2021. She is the current the Chief Public Defender for Texas Rio Grande Public Defender's Office out of Beeville, Texas, where she believes every indigent client deserves great representation.
Audrey is the current Director of Padilla-Immigration at Texas RioGrande Public Defender where she works to ensure that all non-US citizen clients understand the immigration consequences of their arrests and convictions. Prior to working at TRGPD, Audrey worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid where she represented and advocated for moms and kids detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center, the largest family detention center in the country. She has represented detained asylum-seekers before the immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals. Outside of work, Audrey enjoys spending time with her cat, husband, and houseplants.
Rob Avila is an Attorney from San Antonio and graduated from Texas Tech School of Law in 2019. He has spent his legal career serving as a Public Defender and has worked at the High Plains Regional Public Defenders Office and Independent Office of Inmate Counsel before joining TRGPD. Before becoming an attorney, Rob worked as a multimedia journalist covering government, policy, and law.
Andres is a Staff Public Defender at the Maverick Regional Office. In 2025, he graduated from the SMU Dedman School of Law in Dallas. While in law school, he interned at the chambers of Judge Irma Carrillo Ramires of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, and the Collin County District Attorney.
Before law school Andres worked at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in La Paz, Bolivia. Prior to that, he worked on legal intake at the Montgomery County Women's Center in Conroe, Texas.
As a public defender, Brendan stands up for the most vulnerable members of the community. This work is demanding however the rewards are profound. Each case provides the opportunity to make a real difference. Safeguarding freedom, restoring dignity, and helping to maintain strong family and community ties are fundamental values. Brendan firmly believes that a commitment to justice and fairness on an individual level can and will lead to a better society for all. By dreaming big and acting small Brendan hopes to leave this community...his community a little better off.
Isaac Palacio earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from St. Mary's University in San Antonio in 2022 and his Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law in 2024. During law school, he was a member of the National Moot Court Team, worked in the Criminal Justice Clinic, and gained hands-on experience at the Bexar County Public Defender's Office. After graduating, Isaac joined TRGPD's Beeville office, where he continues to zealously advocate for individuals accused of crimes. He is driven by a strong commitment to justice and the protection of individual rights.
Abigail graduated from Texas State University in 2022 (Eat Em' Up Cats!) with a B.S. in Anthropology and a minor in Geology. During undergrad she volunteered in the Osteology Lab at TXST helping with research and the Op ID program working to identify migrant remains and return them home to their families. In 2026, Abigail graduated from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. During her time at SJQ she received a certificate in public interest law and policy, worked for the Salt Lake Legal Defender's, and the Utah Juvenile Defender's Office. Her passion for public defense brought her to the TRGPD family and she is ready to be a fierce advocate for our clients.
Kaitlyn earned her Bachelor's degree majoring in criminology and criminal justice with a minor in communication from Arizona State University in 2022 and her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 2026. Throughout law school, Kaitlyn worked with the County of San Diego Public Defender's Office where she gained valuable experience and a continued passion for public defense. Her passion for public defense and being from a rural community in Arizona with little representation led her to join TRGPD's Beeville office to provide excellent advocacy and representation to rural communities in Texas.
Veronica is a paralegal with experience supporting attorneys in criminal law matters. She is deeply committed to assisting clients during what is often one of the most challenging periods of their lives, and she takes pride in providing compassionate, detail-oriented support throughout the legal process. She is particularly interested in building long-lasting professional relationships and contributing meaningfully to this organization through dedication, collaboration, and a strong commitment to client advocacy.
Angie worked in the jail for a long time. She saw a lot of people just sit there and wait for some hope to let them be free. Angie enjoys working with TRGPD because we get to give our clients that hope and make a difference in people's lives.
Eric has joined TRGPD as an investigator after a 35 year career conducting investigations for the federal government.
Before joining TRGPD, Tony was a police officer for the City of Del Rio, TX. During his time as a police officer, he investigated different types of cases. Tony joined TRGPD in January of 2007. When he left the police department, he thought it would be hard to make the change. However, he found out early on that, even though he had taken an oath to protect and serve, he didn't feel that until he began defense investigations. He continues to work with TRGPD to give our clients a fair chance at justice.
Mike is an Investigator in the Bee Public Defenders Office. His background is Law Enforcement where he retired after 23 years of service. He joined the Public Defenders Office in 2020 and has enjoyed the impact this work has on our clients' lives.
Red works as a Reentry, Mental Health, and Recovery Peer Specialist with Texas Rio Grande Public Defender Service because he believes lived experience belongs at the table. Having lived through long-term incarceration and substance use, he knows how confusing and unforgiving judicial systems can be when people are trying to change. His role is to ensure the court considers the person, not just the charge, and that clients understand their options and retain their right to self-determination. What drives him is simple: people deserve dignity, a real chance at freedom, and someone willing to speak up when the system stops listening.