West Texas Border Crimes Prosecutor Earns Statewide Recognition

ROUND ROCK, TX — Tonya Spaeth Ahlschwede, District Attorney for the 452nd Judicial District, has been named Texas Prosecutor of the Year by the Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA).

The award was presented Sept. 23 during TDCAA’s annual conference in Round Rock, where more than 1,100 participants and officials from across the state gathered. The award is given to a prosecutor who has demonstrated a devotion to the profession of prosecution and who aspires to be a true example of a “minister of justice.”

Ahlschwede was recognized for her years of service prosecuting complex felony cases and her leadership as chair of the Border Prosecution Unit (BPU), a 17-county coalition focused on combating crimes tied to the Texas-Mexico border.

“As the former chair of the Border Prosecutor Unit (BPU), I knew that position needed someone with the skills and talents to increase our effectiveness while dealing with the added complexity of the rapid expansion of our mission,” said Kleberg and Kenedy Counties District Attorney John Hubert, who nominated her. “Tonya was the right person with the right talents who rose to the challenge and has made our organization an indispensable part of the multi-agency fight to protect the entire State of Texas from crimes tied to our border areas.”

Ahlschwede, who has led the BPU since 2021, helped secure state-level funding for border-related prosecution efforts, coordinated with the Governor’s Office and other agencies, and guided the creation of regional processing centers that helped counties manage an increase in criminal cases.

In addition to her leadership role, Ahlschwede has prosecuted hundreds of felony cases during her tenure as district attorney, including securing multiple 99-year sentences in human smuggling cases that resulted in deaths in Edwards and Kimble Counties. She also led the prosecution of an arsonist who burned down the Mason County Courthouse in 2021, obtaining a 75-year sentence after presenting testimony from more than 40 witnesses and 200 items of evidence.

“The State Bar, with input from TDCAA, is very pleased to recognize Tonya Ahlschwede as its Prosecutor of the Year,” said TDCAA President R. David Holmes. “When you look at Tonya’s body of work, especially over the last few years, it is quite evident how deserving she is to receive this award. She has served the citizens of this great state remarkably well, and I know that the members of TDCAA were proud to see Tonya recognized for her hard work and dedication to our profession.”

“Our Board could not have selected a more worthy recipient for this award than Tonya Ahlschwede,” added TDCAA Executive Director Shannon Edmonds. “She is recognized throughout our profession as a leading voice on border prosecution issues and she has worked tirelessly to ensure the continued safety of her local community and our great state.”

Ahlschwede serves the 452nd Judicial District, which includes Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Kimble, and Edwards Counties, covering more than 6,000 square miles of West Texas.

TDCAA is the largest state prosecutor association in the country, with more than 6,500 members statewide.