Billy Benjamen (Ben) Barlow, 21, of Fairfield, who, earlier this year was charged with Attempted Capital Murder of a Child under the age of 10 years, has been No-Billed by a Freestone County Grand Jury.
On November 4, 2016, by request of State Prosecutor Jane Starnes of the Texas Attorney General’s Office, a special set Grand Jury meeting was held to discuss this case.
Prosecutor Starnes took over this case by request of District Attorney Chris Martin, who recused himself because he is friends with Barlow’s parents.
After hearing available evidence from both sides, the Grand Jury chose to No-Bill Barlow.
A no-bill means that the Grand Jury decided there is not sufficient evidence to send a case to District Court for prosecution; so basically, the case has been dropped.
A Grand Jury can issue an indictment at a later time, if another prosecutor chooses to take up the case, but that is extremely rare.