Judge orders tight security, media limits before Karmelo Anthony trial

A Collin County judge has tightened the doors around one of Frisco’s most watched criminal cases, banning cameras in the courtroom, limiting seats and setting 9 a.m. lockout rules before Karmelo Sincere Anthony’s June 1 trial in the killing of Austin Metcalf.

Judge John Roach of the 296th District Court signed the order Friday, saying the case has drawn enough attention that unrestricted access could threaten courtroom security, juror privacy and Anthony’s right to a fair trial. The order allows bag checks and magnetometers at the courthouse entrance and possibly inside the courtroom, and no one will be admitted late until a recess once the doors close each morning at 9 a.m.

The restrictions also draw a sharper line between public access and courtroom control. Families, media and the public will have limited seating, and neither audio nor visual recording will be allowed inside. For a case already watched across Collin County, that means residents who cannot get a seat may have to follow the proceedings without video, audio or the kind of instant replay that often shapes public understanding of a trial.

The underlying case traces to the April 2, 2025 stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Frisco ISD track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced a grand jury indictment on June 24, 2025, charging Anthony with first-degree murder. Because Anthony was 17 at the time, Texas treats him as an adult in criminal court. A conviction can carry 5 to 99 years or life in prison, plus an optional fine of up to $10,000.

Roach’s latest order follows earlier controls on the case. In July 2025, he issued a gag order covering parties, witnesses, law enforcement, expert consultants, courthouse staff and court-appointed officials, barring public discussion and social media posts without court approval. The court also entered a protective order to keep subpoenaed student-witness records private, including education, financial, medical, criminal and employment information.

The security push comes after reports of doxxing, threats and swatting tied to people connected to the case. Collin County attorney Todd Shapiro said the restrictions are uncommon and that Roach is trying to manage a volatile case without letting it become “a circus.” Anthony’s attorney, Mike Howard, has said the defense and Anthony’s family are confident in the justice system, while Austin Metcalf’s father, Jeff Metcalf, has said the indictment cannot bring his son back but he hopes justice will be served.