Justin Sleeper’s name appears in a Williamson County, Texas property-tax lawsuit, but the case is not criminal. Public listings identify the matter as The County of Williamson, Texas v. Justin Sleeper, case number 22-0335-T395, filed on August 10, 2022.
The case concerns allegedly delinquent property taxes tied to Lot 56, Block J, Hunters Chase Addition, Section 1, in Austin. Public notices appeared on April 9, 16, and 23, 2023. These records confirm that the county pursued civil legal action. They do not show that Sleeper faced arrest, criminal charges, or jail.
The final outcome is less clear. The notices do not confirm the amount owed, whether the debt was paid, whether the court entered a foreclosure judgment, or whether the property went to a tax sale. Updated court records are needed to answer those questions.
Key Details From Public Records
The following table separates the confirmed case details from information that remains unclear.
| Case Detail | Public Record |
|---|---|
| Case name | The County of Williamson, Texas v. Justin Sleeper |
| Case number | 22-0335-T395 |
| Filing date | August 10, 2022 |
| Judge | Ryan D. Larson |
| Legal category | Civil property-tax matter |
| Property | Lot 56, Block J, Hunters Chase Addition, Section 1, Austin, Texas |
| Public notices | April 9, 16, and 23, 2023 |
| Criminal charges | None shown in the records reviewed |
| Final outcome | Not confirmed by the public notices |
How the Public Record Developed
The available record includes an older tax case tied to the same name, a separate lawsuit filed in 2022, and public notices from 2023. These records should not be treated as one continuous case because each has a different case number.
An Earlier Case Appeared in 2015
Public case listings show an earlier Williamson County tax matter under case number 15-0546-T277. It appeared in the 277th District Court and was later marked as disposed. “Disposed” means the court closed the case. It does not explain how the matter ended. The status alone does not prove payment, settlement, dismissal, or a foreclosure judgment.
A Separate Case Was Filed in 2022
The later lawsuit was filed on August 10, 2022, under case number 22-0335-T395. Public case information connects Judge Ryan D. Larson to this matter. The new case number shows that it was a separate legal action. It should not be called a continuation of the 2015 matter unless complete court documents establish that connection.
Public Notices Appeared in 2023
Notices tied to the 2022 case appeared on April 9, April 16, and April 23, 2023. Each notice used the same case number and property description. The published notices show that legal notice procedures were used in connection with the case. They do not prove that the court ordered a foreclosure or that the property was sold.
Is This a Criminal Case?
No. The available information identifies case 22-0335-T395 as a civil property-tax matter. A criminal case accuses a person of an offense and may lead to criminal penalties. A civil tax case focuses on money, property, and legal obligations. The taxing authority may seek payment, enforcement of a tax lien, or judicial foreclosure.
Being named as a defendant does not make Justin Sleeper a criminal. It means the county brought a civil claim against him. No reviewed record supports a claim that this matter led to arrest, prosecution, or jail.
What Texas Property-Tax Law Allows
Texas Tax Code Section 33.41 allows a taxing unit to file a lawsuit after property taxes become delinquent. The taxing unit may seek to enforce personal liability, foreclose the tax lien, or pursue both remedies.
A tax lien is a legal claim attached to property. It can secure unpaid taxes, penalties, interest, court costs, and permitted legal fees. The lien does not transfer ownership to the county and does not prove that a sale has occurred.
Williamson County states that Texas requires judicial foreclosure of tax liens held by local government bodies. The county must follow the court process before property tied to such a lien can be sold at a tax sale.
What Happens After a Tax Case Begins?
A lawsuit does not cause an immediate sale. The county must file its claim, provide the required notice, and give the defendant an opportunity to respond.
The court may review tax statements, ownership records, prior payments, exemptions, and any defenses raised by the owner. If the county proves its claim, a judgment may cover taxes, penalties, interest, court costs, and allowed legal expenses.
The county may later request an order of sale if the judgment remains unpaid. Payment, an agreement, a correction, dismissal, or another legal result may end the matter before a sale occurs. A case filing or newspaper notice is not proof of foreclosure.
What the Notices Reveal About the Property
The April 2023 notices identify the affected parcel as:
- Lot 56, Block J
- Hunters Chase Addition, Section 1
- City of Austin, Williamson County, Texas
A legal property description identifies the exact parcel involved in a lawsuit. It may look different from a street address because deeds, liens, and court papers often use subdivision, lot, and block information.
The notices connect this parcel to case 22-0335-T395. They do not confirm its present owner, current tax balance, rental status, or sale history. Current court and property records are needed to verify those details.
Options Available to the Property Owner
A property owner who receives papers about a delinquent tax case should contact the Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector and District Clerk. The tax office can confirm the account balance. The clerk can provide docket information and court costs. The available response may depend on the amount claimed and the stage of the case. Possible steps include:
- Paying the confirmed balance and related costs
- Asking whether an installment agreement is available
- Providing proof of payments that were not credited
- Correcting an ownership or account error
- Reviewing available exemptions or deferrals
- Filing a legal response with help from an attorney
An appraisal protest follows a separate process and has its own deadline. Filing an answer in a tax lawsuit does not automatically challenge the assessed value. Court papers should never be ignored. A missed deadline may allow the case to proceed without the owner’s full response.
Could a Tax Foreclosure Affect a Tenant?
The reviewed records do not confirm that the Hunters Chase property was rented to anyone. Tenant involvement should not be stated as a fact. A tax foreclosure can still affect renters when a leased home is sold. A tenant may learn about the issue through court documents, mail addressed to the owner, a notice placed at the home, or contact from a purchaser.
Texas Property Code Section 24.005(b) may protect certain residential tenants after a tax foreclosure sale. If the foreclosure lien was superior to the lease, the tenant paid rent on time, and no other lease default existed, the purchaser generally must provide at least 30 days’ written notice to vacate if the lease will not continue.
Readers can learn more through our guide to tenant rights in the United States.
What Should a Tenant Do After Receiving Notice?
A tenant who receives legal papers should verify the case number, affected property, sender’s identity, and response date. Contact the court through its official website instead of relying on an unknown phone number printed on a letter.
Continue to follow the lease, but confirm who has the legal right to collect rent after an ownership change. Never redirect your rent after an unverified call or casual message. Ask the new claimant to provide a deed, a relevant court document, or an official property-management notice first.
A renter who faces pressure to leave can review our landlord-tenant laws guide or search for tenant lawyers nearby.
| Situation | What to Do | What to Avoid |
| You receive court papers | Verify the case through the official court portal | Do not discard the documents |
| A new person requests rent | Ask for written proof of authority or ownership | Do not pay an unknown person in cash |
| You receive a notice to vacate | Check the deadline and contact legal aid | Do not treat the notice as a final eviction order |
| The landlord stops responding | Save your lease, payments, and messages | Do not stop rent without legal guidance |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not describe this matter as a criminal case. The records reviewed identify civil tax enforcement, not a criminal prosecution. A second mistake is claiming that the property was seized or sold.
A judgment, order of sale, deed, or official auction record would be needed. Similar names can also cause confusion. Use the full case number, filing date, court, and property description before connecting a person to a legal record.
Documents That Can Help Your Case
A clear paper trail can help an owner, tenant, attorney, or court understand the dispute. Useful records include:
- Court petitions, citations, notices, orders, and docket entries
- Property-tax bills, receipts, and account statements
- Payment-plan documents and proof of earlier payments
- Deeds, title records, leases, and rent receipts
- Emails, letters, text messages, and certified-mail receipts
- Photos of notices posted at the property
- Proof of exemptions, ownership changes, or address corrections
Tenants without a written agreement should keep payment records and messages that prove the rental arrangement. Our tenant rights without a written lease guide explains why this evidence matters.
Questions Readers Often Ask
What was the Justin Sleeper Williamson County case about?
The main record concerns a civil property-tax action filed by Williamson County, Texas. Case 22-0335-T395 relates to property in the Hunters Chase Addition area of Austin.
Did Justin Sleeper face criminal charges?
The records reviewed do not identify any criminal prosecution connected to this case. It concerns property-tax collection through the civil court system.
Was the property sold at a tax auction?
The public notices do not confirm a completed tax sale. A judgment, order of sale, deed, or official sale record would be needed to support that claim.
How much did the county claim was owed?
The reviewed notices do not provide a confirmed current balance. Payments, penalties, interest, costs, and later corrections may change the amount.
What does “disposed” mean in the older case?
Disposed means the court closed the case. That status does not reveal whether payment, judgment, dismissal, settlement, or another event ended it.
Can unpaid property taxes lead to foreclosure in Texas?
Yes, Texas law allows a taxing unit to seek judicial foreclosure after property taxes become delinquent. A lawsuit does not mean that foreclosure has already occurred.
Where can readers check the latest status?
Use the Williamson County civil court portal or contact the District Clerk and Tax Assessor-Collector. Search with the full case number to avoid unrelated records.
Final Summary
Justin Sleeper appears as a defendant in Williamson County civil property-tax case 22-0335-T395. The lawsuit was filed in August 2022, and public notices followed in April 2023.
Public documents link the civil property-tax matter to a parcel in the Hunters Chase Addition. They do not confirm criminal charges, a current debt amount, a final judgment, tenant involvement, or a completed tax sale.
Readers who need the current outcome should consult the official court docket and county tax records rather than rely on assumptions or an old public notice.
Official Sources
- Williamson County Court Case Lookup
- Texas Tax Code Chapter 33
- Texas Property Code Chapter 24
- Williamson County Tax Sales
