Grand jury declines to indict Paul Wall and Baby Bash

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - A Harris County grand jury declined to indict rappers Paul Wall and Baby Bash.

Paul Wall Baby Bash and three others were no billed meaning grand jurors did not find sufficient evidence for the charges to continue forward to trial.

None of the 5 that were indicted by the grand jury were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.

The grand jury did indict five people on drug charges Tuesday for their roles in a December 2016 incident investigated by Houston Police and declined to indict five others, including the two rap artists.

Rapper Paul Michael Slayton known as Paul Wall saw first hand what a criminal charge can do to your reputation.

"It's easy to see how someone can be your friend one day and then not the next day," Paul Wall said.
Paul Wall along with rapper Ronald Ray Bryant known as Baby Bash and 8 others were arrested in a raid last December.

To hear HPD tell it they were part of a secret smoke society that advertised on instagram.

"People think that rappers are bad people and they're not bad people," said Jolanda Jones Paul Walls attorney.

The rap performers and others police alleged were manufacturing THC oil which is found in marijuana.

For almost three months Paul Wall and Baby Bash faced charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.

"Which is meant for gangsters having organized criminal activity but this was t that," Jones said.

But a Harris County grand jury apparently heard what was really going on that December night was a fund raiser for low income kids.

"People had to actually pay with toys for entry," Jones said. "It just happened to be in a smoke shop."

"A lot of people lost  and a lot of people got hurt over it," said John Sanchez who was also no billed.
Sanchez owned the smoke shop that was raided.

"They gave us three days to get out," he said.

"These charges were filed with the previous D.A. Who loved to indict everybody," Jones said."

"God has never left my side same with my family," Paul Wall said. "Prayers work and God is good."

Paul “Paul Wall” Slayton and Ronald “Baby Bash” Bryant were initially arrested on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity concerning possession with intent to deliver THC. The extract from marijuana is a felony in any amount under Texas law.

These charges do not involve the Misdemeanor Marijuana Diversion Program, which was enacted March 1 by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. 

This program offers persons who meet certain criteria the option to avoid being charged and prosecuted for misdemeanor amounts of marijuana if they successfully complete a rehabilitative program on decision making.

Those indicted by grand jurors include: Luis Amaya, Delgario Ramirez, Christopher Williams, Thomas Wissing and Paige Cooper.

Amaya was indicted for possession of THC, a third degree felony amount.

Ramirez was indicted for possession of THC, a second degree felony amount.

Williams was indicted for possession of codeine, a first degree felony amount.

Wissing and Cooper were indicted for possession with intent to deliver THC, a state jail felony amount.

A “no bill” issued by the grand jury means that grand jurors did not find sufficient evidence for charges to continue toward a trial.

Those no-billed were Homer Villareal, John Sanchez, Alfred Diller, Slayton and Bryant.