Massey becomes Frio’s first assistant county attorney

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | July 1, 2026

Frio County has hired an assistant county attorney for the first time in its more than 150-year history, welcoming veteran prosecutor Austen Massey to the newly created role.

The historic expansion of the county attorney’s office is designed to alleviate decades-long gaps in local public safety and legal administration.

Massey’s position as a secondary prosecutor was made financially possible through state funding via Senate Bill 22, a 2023 legislative measure proposed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.

The bill is intended to support rural law enforcement and prosecutor offices without increasing local property taxes.

“I would also like to thank the Texas Legislature and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for passing Senate Bill 23, which provides funding for these positions in rural prosecutor and law enforcement offices, allowing the county to better serve the community’s needs without burdening them with any additional taxing burdens being levied on the citizens of Frio County,” County Attorney Joseph Sindon said last week.

“Without their efforts, criminals would escape prosecution,” the county attorney added. “Their continued dedication to the safety of our community will no doubt make Frio County a safer place for all of us to live for years to come.”

Massey steps into the role with over a decade of legal experience specifically tailored to rural Texas communities.

The attorney has prosecuted both misdemeanor and felony offenses, managing complex dockets and securing jury verdicts in several jurisdictions.

Prior to his hiring in Frio County, Massey’s career path included the assistant county attorney position for Aransas County; and the assistant district attorney position for the 106th District Attorney’s Office, the 3rd/392nd/173rd District Attorney’s Office, and the 69th District Attorney’s Office.

In his new capacity, Massey will primarily spearhead case intake and manage the county’s misdemeanor criminal dockets.

Sindon said Massey’s intake duties will center on a strict policy of reviewing every piece of evidence – including body camera footage, police reports, photographs, and medical records – before rendering a charging decision.

According to the department directives, the case review process serves a three-fold purpose – to ensure case strength, protect due process, and law enforcement oversight.

Sindon said he prides himself in ensuring that cases brought against defendants are “legally sound and fully prepared, maximizing the likelihood of successful prosecution.”

The county attorney also said his office strives to guarantee that cases failing to meet the rigorous legal standard of proof are dismissed early.

Atty. Sindon’s office monitors overall law enforcement procedures to identify, review and address systemic investigative issues before they affect court proceedings, he said.

On the courtroom side, Massey will navigate criminal dockets by negotiating plea agreements with defense counsel and pro se defendants arguing pretrial motions, and representing the county in bench and jury trials.

“It is our hope that having Mr. Massey onboard will allow the Frio County Attorney’s Office to fill gaps in service to our community that have remained for decades simply due to a lack of available time and manpower,” Sindon said. “Some of these gaps include bond forfeitures, law enforcement training, and mental health commitments. Due to this extra manpower, the Frio County Attorney’s Office will also be able to provide increased feedback to officers on individual cases that are rejected by this office for various legal reasons.

“This feedback should lead to stronger arrests and far fewer unintentional constitutional violations by law enforcement,” the county attorney said. “Filling these gaps should make Frio County a safer place for us all.”