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Biographies
Judge Wayne Christian 
Judge Wayne Christian is a native of San Antonio and a graduate of Alamo Heights High School, Trinity University and St. Mary's University School of Law. Following law school, Judge Christian volunteered for active duty with the U.S. Army's 82d Airborne Division as an Airborne Infantry and Judge Advocate General's Corps officer. Upon leaving the active army, he continued his military career as a Special Operations Legal Advisor in the Army Reserve, serving in Panama, Thailand and Afghanistan with U.S. Army Special Forces. Retiring after 30 years of service, Colonel Christian's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and British, Thai and Canadian Parachute Badges.
First elected as a County Court at Law Judge in 1996, Judge Christian has disposed of more criminal cases, tried more jury trials and recovered more restitution for victims than any other County Court Judge in Bexar County history during his term in office.
Judge Christian has served for over 30 years as a Certified Texas Peace Officer, Criminal Justice Prosecutor, Criminal Defense Counsel and Texas State Judge. He has been an Adjunct Instructor at the San Antonio Police Academy and is presently an Adjunct Professor of Law and Consultant for the Center For Terrorism Law at St. Mary's University School of Law.
Joshua Childers
VTC Project Director
Joshua Childers serves as the Project Director for the Bexar County Veterans Treatment Court. Mr. Childers previously served as the Case Manager for the VTC. Mr. Childers served in the United States Air Force as a Personnel Officer. His experience in the military included positions at base level, at higher headquarters, and culminated in being one of only six Air Force Officers in charge of running Air Force Officer and Senior Enlisted Promotion Boards, working directly under the guidance and direction of the Secretary of the Air Force.
Mr. Childers has real world experience in Casualty Operations, Mortuary Affairs, Air Force Protocol, and Deployment Processing. Mr. Childers served two combat deployments to Afghanistan in various roles on both Joint and NATO staffs. Mr. Childers led Casualty Operations for the largest single day Air Force directed mass casualty involving an insider attack in Kabul, Afghanistan in April of 2011. Mr. Childers earned a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Education Degree in Leadership and Administration. Mr. Childers is a Nationally Certified Counselor. Finally, Mr. Childers is also a Disabled Veteran with first-hand experience and knowledge of the VA Healthcare System.
Ron Mora
VTC Court Manager
Ron Mora currently serves as the Veteran’s Treatment Court Manager. He directs and manages cases and oversees all case management functions performed by assigned staff. Conducts case management quality and ensures compliance with social services policies and procedures.
Mr. Mora attended and graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a B.A. in Political Science and History and a Post- Graduate degree in Legal Assistant Program. From 1999 to 2017, Mr. Mora worked in the criminal justice field with the adult probation office(s) in Hays and Bexar County. For 13 years, Mr. Mora, worked in the Gang Unit along with SAPD Gang Unit, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit and with federal agencies.
Chris Whittemore
VTC Case Manager
Chris Whittemore serves as the Case Manager for the Bexar County Veterans Treatment Court. Mr Whittemore served in the US Marine Corps from 1995-1999 as an Infantry Machine Gunner for the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. Mr. Whittemore left the Marine Corps in 1999 and became a Texas State Trooper until 2004. As a result of the Global War on Terror, Chris felt called to return to service and re-enlisted into the Marine Corps and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in 29 Palms, CA. At this assignment, he joined the Scout Sniper Platoon and in 2005 deployed to Ramadi, Iraq. Upon returning from this deployment, he transferred into the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and deployed to Iraq in 2007 conducting operations in Karma, Zidon and Fallujah. Upon his re-enlistment he cross-trained and became a UH-1 Helicopter Crew Chief deploying with HMLA-369 in 2010 to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Upon returning, he became a recruiter and worked tirelessly to bring new Marines into the fold.
In 2013, Mr. Whittemore was sent to the Wounded Warrior Battalion in San Antonio. While there, he underwent multiple surgeries and finally retired in 2015 from the Marine Corps. Mr. Whittemore earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology. Prior to his employment at the VTC he was a valued member of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Finally, Mr. Whittemore is a Disabled Veteran with first-hand experience and knowledge of the VA Health Care System.
Judge Wayne Christian and the VTC Staff
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SSgt Whittemore with SMMC of the USMC, SgtMaj Barrett
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SSgt Whittemore (far left) with Scout Sniper Platoon in Ramdi Iraq, 2005
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Veterans Treatment Court Staff supporting 2017 American GI Forum "Stand Down" Event. From left to right, Ron Mora and Marlena Kelly (former VTC Director)
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LTC Christian, 3rd Special Forces Group, Airborne, Afghanistan, 2003
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Judge Christian, representing VTC at a 2018 San Antonio Bar Association education course, pictured with fellow presenters
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Judge Christian discussing Veterans Treatment Court with UTSA Students
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SSgt Whitemore in Afghanistan 2010
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Captain Joshua Childers, returning home in 2010, after four years of consecutive overseas assignments, pictured with his father
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SSgt Whittemore with Prince Harry, London at Invictus Games
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LTC Christian, 3rd Special Forces Group, Airborne, Afghanistan, 2003
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1st Lt Joshua Childers, with Neil Armstrong and Jim Lovell, at Ramstein AB, Germany in 2009
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VTC Staff in 2017 attending local Veterans outreach event, left to right (Joshua Childers, Marlena Kelly (former VTC Director), Ron Mora)
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Judge Christian speaking at Memorial Service in honor of former VTC Director, Mr. Randy Parker
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Captain Joshua Childers, fourth from left, with team assigned to CSTC-A CJ1, Kabul Afghanistan, 2011
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SSgt Whittemore, Marine Corps Ball 2015
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Captain Joshua Childers, second from left, in 2013 at HQ ISAF, Kabul, Afghanistan
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Veterans Treatment Court Staff with ceremonial check from Texas Veterans Commission, awarded for support of the program in 2017. From left to right, Joshua Childers, Judge Christian, Marlena Kelly (former VTC Director), Ron Mora
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Veterans Treatment Court
Judge Wayne Christian
Colonel, US Army, Retired
Joshua Childers
Air Force Veteran
VTC Program Director
Ron Mora
VTC Court Manager
Christopher Whittemore
USMC Veteran
VTC Case Manager
Defense Counsel
Joe Pina, MAJOR, US Army, Retired
JoAnn S. De Hoyos
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Office of the Texas Governor, Criminal Justice Division
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County Court 6 / Veterans Treatment Court
Physical Address
300 Dolorosa
2nd Floor
San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-335-2156Fax: 210-335-2275