Prosecutors Will Get another Shot at Taking

*Special Interest to Chambers County

By Miya Shay, ABC 13 Eyewitness News

January 30, 2025

ABC13 Houston

  CHAMBERS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — The fate of a Beach City man accused of killing his grandparents eight years is going into its ninth year now with no end in sight. It’s the latest twist in a highly unusual case, where the fate of a double murder case rests in a courtroom with a presiding judge who is not a licensed attorney.

  Spenser Bienek was just 14 when he was charged with shooting and killing his grandparents, Sandra and Chester Bienek, in the Beach City home they all shared. For the past eight years, he’s lingered behind bars without his case gone to trial, or adjudicated in anyway. He is now 22 years old.

  On Thursday, his attorney, Ed Lieck, requested a hearing, believing his client should be released, pointing out that Chambers County had eight years to take the case to trial, plead it out, or certify Bienek as an adult. When asked if he believed mistakes were made, Lieck answered with a simple yes.

  Meanwhile, relatives of Sandra and Chester, who are Spenser’s aunts and uncles, showed up in court hoping for a different outcome. “I’m just hoping he’s not getting released on the streets,” said aunt Sunnie Hart.

  This already complex case would be heard in front of Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia. Sylvia is the elected county judge who works with Commissioners Court, he is not a lawyer and has no law degree.

**View entire story with interviews on ABC13 Houston Facebook page or abc13.com.

https://abc13.com/post/beach-city-man-accused-killing-grandparents-age-14-2016-could-have-fate-decided-chambers-county-judge/

*** Hearing was held on Thursday, January 30, 2025, in Judge Sylvia’s court. He would not allow media in the courtroom.