FRISCO, Texas — June 14, 2026 — The Texas judge at the center of a racially charged murder trial is defending the 35‑year sentence handed to 19‑year‑old Karmelo Anthony, insisting the jury reached the correct verdict even as he described the teen as “a nice young man” whose life was forever altered by a single violent moment.
Judge John Roach Jr., who presided over the high‑profile case, told a local television station he remains confident in both the process and the outcome, saying he sleeps “well at night” knowing the trial was handled “exactly as it should have been.”
The case — involving the fatal stabbing of 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf, a white student-athlete — has ignited intense debate across Texas and the nation, drawing in activists, politicians, celebrities, and thousands of online commentators.
Judge Rejects Rumors, Praises Jury
Roach pushed back against claims that he had personal ties to the victim’s family and dismissed criticism over his decision to bar cameras from the courtroom.
He also offered a surprisingly sympathetic assessment of Anthony:
“He seems like a nice young man who committed a crime,” Roach said. “And he understands today, more than ever, the consequences of what he did.”
Roach added that he believes Collin County’s handling of the case should serve as a model for other jurisdictions facing similarly sensitive trials.
A Deadly Encounter at a High School Track Meet
Anthony was convicted Tuesday of murdering Metcalf during a 2025 Frisco ISD track meet, when both teens were 17. According to testimony, Anthony sought shelter under another school’s team tent during a rainstorm. Metcalf confronted him, a physical struggle followed, and Anthony stabbed him once in the chest with a folding knife.
Anthony immediately admitted to police that he stabbed Metcalf, claiming he acted in self‑defense after being grabbed by a larger athlete.
Prosecutors argued the opposite — that Anthony escalated a minor confrontation into a deadly attack.
A Trial That Became a National Flashpoint
Despite prosecutors insisting the case “had nothing to do with race,” the trial quickly became a cultural lightning rod.
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Cardi B called the sentence “disgusting” and accused the system of making an example out of Anthony.
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Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D‑Texas) argued the outcome would have been different if the races were reversed.
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Civil rights activists questioned why the jury included no Black jurors, though reporting indicates several non‑white members served.
Outside the courthouse, supporters of both families clashed. Two people were arrested, including a Black man seen in a viral photo arguing with a Metcalf supporter wearing an American‑flag polo.
Families Speak Out Amid Death Threats
Anthony’s father, Andrew Anthony, said the trial felt predetermined:
“My son was already convicted in the court of public opinion.”
He also questioned whether an all‑white jury would have viewed his son’s self‑defense claim fairly.
Metcalf’s father, Jeff Metcalf, said he believes Anthony deserved life in prison and vowed to oppose parole “for the rest of my life.” He also revealed he has received multiple death threats since the verdict — as has Anthony’s family.
Comparisons to Kyle Rittenhouse Emerge
The case has drawn frequent comparisons to the 2021 trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted after killing two people during protests in Wisconsin. Supporters of Anthony argue Rittenhouse was given the benefit of the doubt that Anthony was denied.
Critics counter that the cases are legally distinct, and Rittenhouse himself rejected the comparison, saying, “We are not the same.”
A Community Already Divided
The trial unfolded in Frisco, one of the fastest‑growing — and increasingly diverse — cities in the country. The area has struggled with racial tensions, anti‑immigrant rhetoric, and political polarization. The Anthony case deepened those divides, becoming a symbol of broader anxieties about race, youth violence, and the criminal justice system.