A Bandera County jury on Friday, Aug. 22, found Andrew Dougherty guilty of murdering Antoinette Click, and Judge M. Patrick Maguire sentenced him to life in prison.
After Dougherty's first trial ended in a hung jury, this week-long trial unfolded in three parts.
On the first day, opening arguments were presented by Benjamin Rosenbach of the 198th District Attorney’s Office on behalf of the state, and defense attorney Patrick Hundley on behalf of Dougherty.
The second day was devoted to jury selection, during which more than 100 individuals were considered. Thirteen jurors, including one alternate, were chosen, and Judge Maguire recessed court until the trial began Wednesday.
Testimony came from former and current Bandera County Sheriff’s Office officials, including Investigator Jerry Johnson, Investigator Matt Jacobsen and former Deputy Brett Oberlechner.
Johnson was the lead investigator in the case of Click, who was shot in her home through a glass doorframe in April 2021. She was struck in the left temple and the bullet exited through the back of her neck. Click was 72 years old at the time of her death, according to officials.
Hundley questioned Johnson’s investigation methods, arguing that Johnson had cleared the scene too quickly — about three hours after the murder — and failed to properly collect evidence. He also pointed out the absence of body cameras during searches of Dougherty’s property. Johnson said they were not required for a criminal investigation.
A bullet hole in a music speaker that was not collected as evidence became a focus for the defense. Johnson said the only item collected was a .38-caliber bullet. Johnson, a gunsmith with 25 years’ experience, issued a call for the weapon.
In October 2022, Bandera resident Samuel Denmore found a gun on Dougherty’s property. At first, Denmore during the trial said he had been treasure hunting; later, he claimed he was looking to build a water line. Jacobsen retrieved the gun from a hole behind the property. Johnson ordered a ballistics test, but it came back inconclusive due to corrosion according to testimony.
Hundley introduced a testing site report that said there was no definitive match and no consistent markings, a report Johnson testified he had never seen. The defense also questioned Denmore’s credibility, alleging he was motivated by his own felony charges. Johnson denied providing Denmore any assistance.
The defense also pointed to Charles Howell, the boyfriend of Click’s daughter, Danielle, as a possible suspect. Johnson testified that Howell had threatened Danielle and her family 24 hours before Click’s murder. Witness testimony conflicted on descriptions of the shooter, with one describing an older man in a black jacket and jeans, and another describing a younger, sandy-haired suspect who was shirtless and barefoot.
The state presented a timeline:
- 12:43 p.m. Dougherty deposited money at the Bandera County Jail for his girlfriend, Noelle Parks.
- 1:04 p.m. Ollie Stotz, Howell’s mother, called 911 about Click being shot.
- 1:06 p.m. Howell called Danielle. Witness Sandra Small testified she overheard Danielle ask Howell if he had shot her mother, to which Howell allegedly replied, “Isn’t that what you wanted?”
- 1:12 p.m. Danielle called 911, naming Dougherty as the shooter.
- 1:36 p.m. Dougherty was in custody. Investigators questioned him about a .38-caliber gun that Johnson said he had previously recorded the serial number for in 2016. Dougherty denied owning one, saying he referred to his weapon as a .357 Magnum. No .38-caliber ammunition was found on his property.
The defense pointed out that four days after the murder, Howell was seen moving and later burning furniture, including a speaker box with a bullet hole. They introduced Danielle’s phone records showing her fears of Howell.
Danielle testified that Dougherty had argued with her the day before her mother’s death about a missing bobcat machine. The state argued Dougherty went to the Click property, tore down a tarp over a carport searching for the equipment, and shot Click through the glass front door after hearing a voice inside.
Danielle also testified that Dougherty drank heavily and could be threatening with guns, though she admitted she once described him as “harmless unless you piss him off.”
Her credibility was challenged, as she admitted to methamphetamine use within 72 hours of the killing. She said she was sober the day of the murder.
Hundley emphasized Howell’s history of violence. He questioned witnesses about text messages where Danielle expressed fear of Howell, and asked if it surprised them that Stotz slept with a knife under her pillow.
The defense also sought to admit a 186-paragraph report by former deputy Michael Wedgworth that Johnson admitted he had not read. Judge Maguire denied the request, ruling it cumulative and repetitive.
In closing arguments, Hundley said Dougherty had no motive, no violent record, no eyewitnesses, and no definitive ballistics match, while Howell and Danielle had motive. He criticized the trial as “rushed” and urged jurors to “fight for truth, not what is convenient.”
The state countered that Dougherty’s jacket tested positive for gunshot residue, that a marshal saw him washing his hands after the crime, and that he was drunk when arrested. Rosenbach said investigators were thorough and reminded jurors that Click was left dying after being shot.
The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before unanimously finding Dougherty guilty of first-degree murder.
During sentencing, Dougherty’s sister, Dorothy Docherty, asked for mercy, calling him a devoted father of four. Rosenbach argued Dougherty was “one of the biggest purveyors of violence in the community” and should be removed.
Judge Maguire imposed a life sentence.
“It is horrific what you did to Ms. Click,” he told Dougherty. “You shot her and left her to die.”
Click’s son, Dusty, gave a victim impact statement thanking the court but criticizing the sheriff’s office and EMS. He said his mother was left in the driveway for 45 minutes as deputies tended to barking dogs and EMS took photos instead of helping her.
“The man who shot her should absolutely be held accountable,” Dusty said. “But so should the people who were supposed to help her.”
Dougherty was escorted out of the courtroom. Hundley said he had not yet decided whether to appeal.
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