Galveston, TX – A federal civil rights lawsuit announced today that is being filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas accuses law enforcement officials from both Texas and Mississippi of orchestrating a multi-jurisdictional conspiracy to falsely arrest, maliciously prosecute, and unlawfully imprison independent journalist Matthew Oliver Reardon.
At the center of the lawsuit is an August 11, 2023 arrest conducted by Galveston Police Officer William Osteen, who pulled Reardon from his vehicle at 2 a.m. and accused him of driving while intoxicated—despite Reardon’s clear and repeated requests for a breathalyzer test. Instead of administering that test, Osteen and several other officers forcibly transported Reardon to UTMB Hospital, where nurse Jacob McDougle drew blood from Reardon under duress. Reardon was pinned face-down, handcuffed, and stuck repeatedly by needles—despite voicing a documented fear of needles and objecting to the procedure.
The toxicology report, dated September 6, 2023, proved what Reardon had stated all along: there was no alcohol in his system.
Yet, in December 2023, the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office indicted Reardon for felony DWI – 3rd or more, based on a fraudulent claim that he had two prior convictions. That enhancement was allegedly fabricated by Deputy Hoby James and Deputy Kandis Beavers of the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department (Mississippi), who called Galveston PD during the arrest and falsely claimed a prior Mississippi final conviction existed. Worse still, Lafayette County Circuit Clerk Jeff Busby submitted a letter on official letterhead falsely stating that Reardon had no active appeal pending—despite court records showing otherwise.
Reardon was held in Galveston for nearly 11 months on a $100,000 bond before the case was abruptly dismissed by Galveston prosecutors on May 24, 2024. They then immediately recharged Reardon with a misdemeanor DWI, with the hopes of salvaging something. Reardon, held steadfast to his claim of innocence, and on May 9, 2025 it all paid off. The second dismissal, this time of the misdemeanor DWI charge , came just days before a scheduled Franks hearing, where Reardon’s attorney, Benjamin Campagna with the TX Attorney Group was set to argue that the blood draw warrant was obtained through perjury and intentional misrepresentations..
“There were major inconsistencies between Osteen’s probable cause affidavit, other statements made under oath, and the hard evidence in the case. The great weight of the statements suggests that Osteen lied to obtain a search warrant against Mr. Reardon.” Campagna told WTPNews.
The lawsuit names:
– Officer William Osteen and Sergeant Jack Doraty (Galveston PD)
– Nurse Jacob McDougle and UTMB Health (Hospital)
– Sheriff Deputies Hoby James and Kandis Beavers (Lafayette County, MS)
– Circuit Clerk Jeff Busby (Lafayette County, MS)
– City of Galveston, TX
It brings claims for malicious prosecution, excessive force, civil rights conspiracy, First Amendment retaliation, Monell liability, and false imprisonment under Texas law.
“This was not a mistake,” Reardon stated.. “This was retaliation. They coordinated across state lines to fabricate a felony where none existed, just to silence and punish me for holding them accountable in Mississippi.”
Reardon is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, a jury trial, and injunctive relief to prevent further retaliation against independent journalists. At the present moment, he is representing himself pro se and has filed for in forma pauperis status, citing financial harm caused by the false imprisonment.
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