District Court hears thirteen pleas

The district court heard 13 pleas when it met in Clarendon Tuesday, July 18. District Attorney Luke Inman, assisted by ADA Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Norma Ann Garcia, 35 from Wellington, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to 17.5 years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the second degree felony offense of burglary of a habitation.

On October 5, 2015, Garcia originally pleaded to the charges from the August 7, 2015 offense in Collingsworth County when she was arrested by Collingsworth County Sheriff Kent Riley. The State filed the motion to adjudicate on November 3, 2016, alleging six violations of community supervision.

Garcia is also required to pay $376 in court costs and a $4,000 fine.

Garcia also pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to 10 years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

Garcia was arrested in Childress County by Childress Police Officer Todd Gambol on October 10, 2016 and pleaded guilty to an information on February 2, 2017 and placed on deferred adjudication for this offense as well. The State filed a motion to adjudicate on April 17, 2017, alleging three violations of probation.

Garcia is also required to a pay a $3,000 fine, $329 in court costs, and $180 in restitution.

Emily Garcia, 24 from Wellington, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of prohibited substance in a correctional facility. However, the sentence was probated for a period of five years.

On August 29, 2014, Garcia originally pleaded to the charges from the June 10, 2014 offense in Collingsworth County by Collingsworth County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Warren. The State filed the motion to adjudicate on April 18, 2017, alleging six violations of community supervision.

After being finally adjudicated and convicted for the third degree offense, Garica is also required to pay $376 in court costs, a $1,000 fine, and $180 in restitution.

Suszanne Watkins, 35 from Amarillo, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to 17 months in the State Jail Division of TDCJ for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance.

On March 14, 2016, Watkins originally pleaded to the charges from the February 25, 2016 offense in Carson County by Panhandle Police Department Officer Taner Blackburn. The State filed the motion to adjudicate on July 15, 2016, alleging seven violations of community supervision.

Watkins is also required to pay $336 in court costs, a $500 fine and $213 in restitution.

Joshuue Ignacio Mier, 32 from Eugene, OR, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to 18 months in the State Jail Division of TDCJ for the state jail felony offense of possession of marijuana.

On October 21, 2013, Mier originally pleaded to the charges from the April 17, 2013 offense in Carson County by DPS Highway Patrol Trooper Joshua Allen. The State filed the motion to adjudicate on September 14, 2016, alleging six violations of community supervision.

Mier is also required to pay $336 in court costs, a $2,500 fine and $1,797 in restitution.

Skylar Kent Jones, 25 from Childress, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to 14 months in the State Jail Division of TDCJ for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance.

On December 1, 2016, Jones originally pleaded to the charges from the May 27, 2016 offense in Childress County when he was arrested by Childress Police Department Officer Jesse Zuniga. The State filed the motion to adjudicate on April 17, 2017, alleging four violations of community supervision.

Jones is also required to pay $329 in court costs, a $1,000 fine and $180 restitution.

Abel Villa was placed on probation for a period of three years for the state jail felony offense of endangering a child. Villa pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Villa, 35 from Memphis, was arrested in Hall County for the offense that took place on April 7, 2017 by Memphis Police Officer Weslee Bolton. Villa was later indicted by the Hall County Grand Jury on June 21, 2017.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Villa is required to pay a $2,500 fine, $381 in court costs, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If Villa violates probation, he could face up to two years in the State Jail Division of the TDCJ.

Santos Antonio Soliz was placed on probation for a period of three years for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Soliz pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Soliz, 22 from Amarillo, was arrested in Childress County for the offense that took place on June 14, 2017 by Gambol. Soliz pleaded to an information filed by the State on July 17, 2017.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Soliz is required to pay $354 in court costs, $180 drug lab restitution, a $2,500 fine, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If Soliz violates probation, he could face up to two years in the State Jail Division of the TDCJ.

Christopher Fletcher, Jr. was placed on probation for a period of four years for the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Fletcher pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Fletcher, 32 from Arlington, was arrested in Childress County for the offense that took place on November 11, 2016 by Childress County Sheriff’s Deputy Kenneth Arant. Fletcher pleaded to an information filed by the State on January 12, 2017.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Fletcher is required to pay a $4,000 fine, $329 in court costs, $180 lab restitution, and successfully complete 300 hours of community service. If Fletcher violates probation, he could face up to 20 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

David Bryan Lewis was placed on probation for a period of five years for the first degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Lewis pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Lewis, 50 from Ft. Gasland, CO, was arrested in Carson County for the offense that took place on November 18, 2015 by DPS Highway Patrol Trooper Jerome Ingle. Lewis pleaded guilty to an information filed by the State on September 2, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Lewis is required to pay a $5,000 fine, $336 in court costs, $180 restitution, successfully complete 400 hours of community service, and pay a $500 out of state probation transfer fee. If Lewis violates probation, he could face up to 99 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

Jose Valenzuela-Mendoza, 23 from Phoenix, AZ, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to 22 years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the first degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance.

On April 29, 2014, Valenzuela originally pleaded to the charges from the July12, 2013 offense in Carson County when he was arrested by DPS Highway Patrol Officer Max Honesto. The State filed the motion to adjudicate on August 12, 2016, alleging five violations of community supervision.

Valenzuela is also required to pay $336 in court costs to Carson County, $1,505.50 in restitution, and a $8,000 fine.

Mary Katherine Hill, 36 from Wellington, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to six years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance.

On August 21, 2014, Hill originally pleaded to the charges from the August 4, 2014 offense in Collingsworth County when she was arrested by Collingsworth County Deputy Billy Doss. The State filed the motion to adjudicate on June 8, 2017, alleging three violations of community supervision.

Hill is also required to pay $376 in court costs, $180 in restitution and a $5,000 fine. Hill also pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to six years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of tampering with physical evidence. The offense date and plea date for this offense were the same dates for the third degree felony offense which Hill was also convicted.