GROESBECK, TX — Social media in Groesbeck started buzzing recently about one man's bad experience in court. There's just one problem- it didn't happen the way many people have taken it.
What started out as a code enforcement case in the Groesbeck Municipal Court has now gone to appeal in the social media court of public opinion, over what a defendant says a judge “meant," but didn't say.
Joey Palomin says he wasn't prepared for what he faced in a Groesbeck courtroom. He knew he had a code enforcement issue with the City when it came to this debris pile, but didn't know Judge Michelle Nance was fed up with the ongoing problem.
"She basically told me she was sick of me and "my people," and when I repeated her "my people" she said, "Yes, your family,"" he explained.
Frustrated, Palomin left the courtroom and wrote a Facebook post calling out Judge Nance for her harsh tone.
Lots of people took the post to mean the judge called out "dirty Mexicans," something Palomin says he saw in her eyes and felt in her spirit. But he admits, she never said it.
"Well, I've seen a Facebook post from a gentleman in town, a resident, about an alleged interaction he had with a judge, but I've had no official complaint for it," said Groesbeck City Manager Chris Henson.
So the City plans for now, to take no action, at all, except when it comes to Palomin, who could face fines for leaving this pile of trash sitting out.
"The problem with this place has gone one for, from my understanding, it's been couple of years," said Henson.
"We haven't really had a chance to finish the project. We have more stuff we've got to add. We have to knock down some stuff down," explained Palomin.
Without a complaint, the City says it can't do anything.
"I have no authority to act without that complaint," said Henson.
Since the judge never said what Palomin wants to complain about, there's not much anybody can do.
"I was just venting. I wasn't expecting all this. I don't want to stir up the dust or anything so... I was just venting to myself," said Palomin.
No one’s filed an official complaint with the City, which brings it back to the social media court of public opinion.
