Across the Line
Was the quaint East Texas town of Mineola home to a horrific child sex ring? Were the three people sent to prison last year for running it guilty? Was justice served? Depends on which district attorney you ask.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue. Mike graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1979 with a degree in government. He wrote for various publications, including Trouser Press, Third Coast Magazine, the Austin American-Statesman, and the Austin Chronicle. In 1997, he joined Texas Monthly, where he has won two Texas Gavel Awards from the State Bar of Texas and four Stephen Philbin Awards from the Dallas Bar Association. He was named Writer of the Year at the City and Regional Magazine Awards in 2015. His stories have appeared in The Best American Magazine Writing, The Best American Sports Writing, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, Da Capo’s Best Music Writing, the New York Times, and Men’s Journal. Mike is also a musician and has played in Austin bands the Wild Seeds, the Setters, the Lollygaggers, and the Savage Trip. He pitches for the Burkas, the Texas Monthly softball team.
Was the quaint East Texas town of Mineola home to a horrific child sex ring? Were the three people sent to prison last year for running it guilty? Was justice served? Depends on which district attorney you ask.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
As he readies himself for this summer's Tour de France, the two-time winner is battling allegations in Europe and elsewhere that he uses performance-enhancing drugs. He insists he is clean. But proving that is turning out to be one of his toughest challenges yet. He doesn't use performance-enhancing drugs, he
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Until he overdosed in November, he was one of the most influential cultural figures in Texas, the master of a scene fueled by drugs and his own brilliant, eccentric music.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Most guitars don’t have names. This one has a voice and a personality, and bears a striking resemblance to his owner.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
In 1982 three teenagers were killed near the shores of Lake Waco in a seemingly inexplicable crime. More than three decades later, the tragic and disturbing case still casts a long, dark shadow.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
A decade ago, Gabby Sones accused her parents and five others of running the most depraved child sex ring in Texas history. Now she’s ready to clear their names.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The incredible true story of two brothers raised on the hardscrabble country music of rural West Texas who dropped out, tuned in, found God, and helped launch the seventies soft-rock revolution.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Hypnosis played a critical role in the real-life case depicted in Max’s ‘Love & Death.’ But was it good science? Here’s what the experts say.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The Max docuseries debuting today sheds new light on my reporting for Texas Monthly.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
For decades, the Houston folklorist labored over his biography of the legendary bluesman. Seven years after McCormick’s death, the book is finally out—and so are the secrets long kept by its troubled author.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Those in the office that prosecuted him agree the soft-spoken Native American did not murder a priest back in 1981. His case is back before a district court judge.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Brands once staged elaborate productions for their employees. No one was better at making them than Mexia-born Michael Brown.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Katherine Propper’s student films have won awards at major film festivals. How does she do it? By knowing the rules of filmmaking—and breaking them.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
James Reyos was convicted of murder in Odessa. For forty years, he’s sworn he’s innocent—and now authorities are finally listening to him.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Families of those who died in the Korean War are asking Congress to investigate why their relatives’ names aren’t on the recently raised memorial wall in Washington, D.C.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The Spurs electrified a once sleepy city, paved the way for the Mavs’ and Rockets’ success, and won a few games along the way.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
How does the Texas Rangers’ legacy as frontier lawmen affect the men and women who wear the badge today?
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
A man approached Cecilia Ballí and asked, “Are you looking for work?” It shook her—and helped her grasp the danger in early-aughts Juárez.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Two Texas Monthly writers go head-to-head on the merits and inferiorities of tacos made with crispy shells vs. soft tortillas.
David Courtney, a.k.a. the Texanist, is a staff writer.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Twenty-two years ago, a Texas Monthly writer heard about a Houston DJ whose slowed-down mixes had become the sound of the city.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Cecilia Ballí recalls reporting on her family’s legal victory over the lawyer who swindled the Ballís out of lucrative land rights on Padre Island.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
On Wednesday in Austin, the head of the Texas Forensic Science Commission will interview the author of the latest forensic-science takedown.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Two brothers in Dallas tried for years to correct the misspellings and omissions. Now they’re heartbroken.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Dallas brothers Hal and Ted Barker, who have spent decades studying Korean War deaths, believe the wall is riddled with omissions and errors.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The Fifth Circuit is led by four judges who got their start in Texas politics. For these activists, overturning the right to an abortion is only the beginning.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The most dynamic freedom celebration in Texas, begun in the nineteenth century, returns to life.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Texas Monthly writer Michael Hall, who profiled Seals in 2020, reflects on some of the musician’s best stories.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Bobbie Nelson, pianist and older sister to Texas music icon Willie Nelson, died Thursday morning at 91.
John Spong writes primarily about popular culture.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Some Refugio County locals say it was “kids being kids.” For others, the incident has reopened old wounds.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
When a homeowner shot and killed a police officer in Midland, the court case that followed pitted two core Texas values against each other.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether John Henry Ramirez, a Texan convicted of murder, is entitled to have his pastor by his side when he’s executed.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
For 68 years, hippies, rednecks, and college kids drank beer at the Austin roadhouse, which received a final sendoff from famed country group Freda and the Firedogs.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Texas will put only three inmates to death in 2021. So much for our hang-’em-high reputation.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The wild times of a gentle roughneck who beat the Texas criminal-justice system.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The Phantom stylishly portrays what most everybody knows: the 27-year-old Texan didn’t kill Wanda Lopez.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
In 1981 three Black teenagers drowned while in law enforcement custody during a Juneteenth gathering at Lake Mexia. Four decades later, Texas’s proudest Emancipation Day celebration still hasn’t recovered.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
And 18 months after the police, district attorney, and trial judge all declared the Houston man innocent.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Seventeen years after Floyd’s arrest by a notorious Houston cop, his family is seeking a pardon.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Her ordeal included one final trauma: ICE showed up to deport her before the Mexican consulate intervened.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
From ‘Urban Cowboy’ to ‘Northern Exposure’ to ‘No Country for Old Men,’ Texas’s finest character actor isn’t hanging up his spurs just yet.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
In a nondescript space outside Austin, the team behind these world-renowned guitars carry on the exacting legacy of their founder.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The New York–born singer-songwriter got to Texas as soon as he could—and spent the next five decades changing the lives of seemingly everyone he met.
David Courtney, a.k.a. the Texanist, is a staff writer.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Jeff Salamon is the deputy editor at Texas Monthly.
John Spong writes primarily about popular culture.
Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002.
Christian Wallace writes about West Texas, oil and gas, music, cowboys, history, and history-making Texans.
The king of the Parrotheads remembers the ups and downs of his half-century friendship with the late cosmic cowboy.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
After contracting COVID-19 earlier this year, the musician had spent most of this past summer in isolation—where he was still writing songs.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
DNA evidence proved Lydell Grant's innocence. So why won't the state’s highest criminal court exonerate him?
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Jim McCloskey, the godfather of the innocence movement, changed the way we think about crime and punishment.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
At 16, Ayala was just beginning to learn about social movements when police shot him in the head with a ”less-lethal” weapon.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Friends remember Floyd, who grew up in the Third Ward, as a gentle soul, a father, and a talented collaborator of DJ Screw’s.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
First came the sound of someone running hard on the breezeway outside, then a banging on the apartment door. Irene Vera opened it to see her neighbor, twenty-year-old Rosa Jimenez, holding a little boy who lay limp in her arms. “Help me! Help me!” Jimenez cried hysterically in Spanish. The
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The recording career of country music’s greatest artist, surveyed, sized up, and sorted on the occasion of his 87th birthday.
David Courtney, a.k.a. the Texanist, is a staff writer.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
John Spong writes primarily about popular culture.
Christian Wallace writes about West Texas, oil and gas, music, cowboys, history, and history-making Texans.
The author and journalist has mobilized fans to chip in and help struggling strangers online.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The Houston icon, who passed away yesterday, sang a lot of other music too.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
But we're hard at work creating another way for you to experience this incredible storytelling event.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
On March 17, we're taking over the Moody Theater for a night of storytelling from some of your favorite Texas artists.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The incredible true story of two brothers raised on the hardscrabble country music of rural West Texas who dropped out, tuned in, found God, and helped launch the seventies soft-rock revolution.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Pedro Villalobos handles felony cases in Travis County, but his own legal status could be in jeopardy.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The stories, the traditions, and the deeper meanings of the boots in their lives.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Skip Hollandsworth specializes in long-form narratives.
Emily McCullar is a senior editor covering pop culture, news, and Texas history. One time she wrote about sports.
Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002.