Case blog

  • Katy Man Sentenced to Life for Shooting 3, Killing Wife

    Posted by · October 07, 2024 1:29 PM

  • Katy Man Sentenced to Life for Shooting 3, Killing Wife

    A Katy man was sentenced to life in prison for shooting three family members, including killing his wife, in a chaotic domestic violence incident at the family’s home in 2021, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “This man went on a shooting rampage in his own home, shooting three people that he claimed he loved,” Ogg said. “An abuser can hurt, maim and kill anyone caught in their path. Cases like this are why we have a Domestic Violence Division, and innocent victims like this are why we work so hard to get justice.”

    Lawrence Reed, 56, was convicted by a jury of murder and sentenced to life late Thursday for fatally shooting 36-year-old Valarie Junius at their house on July 29, 2021.

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  • Houston Father Sentenced to Life in Prison for Molesting and Killing His Baby Daughter

    Posted by · October 04, 2024 12:42 PM

  • Houston Father Sentenced to Life in Prison for Molesting and Killing His Baby Daughter

    A Houston father was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday after being convicted of capital murder for sexually molesting and killing his 8-month-old daughter in 2020, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “This baby couldn’t walk or talk, and she should have been with someone who kept her safe, but instead he abused that trust,” Ogg said. “Children are the most vulnerable victims in our community, and the people who hurt them often try to escape accountability — that is why we have specialized prosecutors working in the Child Fatality Section.”

    Luis Luna, 27, was convicted in a 10-day trial of killing 8-month-old Savayah Mason on Aug. 24, 2020. He was automatically sentenced to life in prison without parole.

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  • Former Deputy Constable Sentenced to 8 Years for Bribery

    Posted by · October 02, 2024 10:16 AM

  • Former Deputy Constable Sentenced to 8 Years for Bribery

    A former deputy with the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison for bribery for demanding money from local Vietnamese businesses with the threat of arrest, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “Too often we see our immigrant communities being taken advantage of because they believe dirty cops who claim that no one cares or that no one will believe them,” Ogg said. “Jurors have now shown that they are willing to convict cops who cross the line.”

    Bobby Joe Espinosa, 41, was convicted of bribery and sentenced to prison by a jury during a five-day trial.

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  • Houston Husband Sentenced to 65 Years in Prison for Killing Wife

    Posted by · September 27, 2024 8:47 AM

  • Houston Husband Sentenced to 65 Years in Prison for Killing Wife

    A Houston man who fatally shot his wife in 2021 was sentenced Tuesday to 65 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “Domestic violence, like in this case, can go on for years with abuse and threats of violence,” Ogg said. “It is important that we have a Domestic Violence Division that specializes in prosecuting horribly sad cases like this and was able to get justice for the victim.”

    Dakari Jahi Lenear, 48, was convicted of murder for killing 45-year-old Rhonda Lenear in the 9500 block of Walnut Glen Drive, just north of Jersey Village, about 5:15 p.m. on May 19, 2021.

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  • Documented Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Five People

    Posted by · September 21, 2024 10:39 AM

  • Documented Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Five People

    Note: Photos of the five people Christian Cavazos killed were put together in a photo montage for buttons worn during his sentencing. Clockwise from top left are Ramiro Reyes, 65; Rosalva Reyes, 63; Gonzalo Andrew Gonzalez, 22; Jonathan Jimenez, 20; and 19-year-old Ryan McGowan.

     

    A documented Houston gang member was sentenced Friday to life in prison for killing five people in three separate shootings in 2019, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “So many people, so many families will never have peace because of the indiscriminate violence this man inflicted on our community,” Ogg said. “We swore an oath to see that justice is done, and in this case justice demanded that this man be sentenced to life in prison.”

    Christian Ivan Cavazos, 22, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in a devastating crime spree that began on Sept. 6, 2019, and was investigated by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI.

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  • Houston Man Agrees to Three 60-Year Prison Sentences for Triple Murder in 2017

    Posted by · September 20, 2024 11:14 AM

  • Houston Man Agrees to Three 60-Year Prison Sentences for Triple Murder in 2017

    A Houston man pleaded guilty to three charges of murder in exchange for three sentences of 60 years in prison for committing a triple murder in northwest Harris County in 2017, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “Three families are suffering unthinkable heartbreak because of the actions of one man with a gun who made the decision that he wanted to start shooting,” Ogg said. “Prosecutors with our Homicide Division made sure that he was held accountable for his actions, and hopefully he will spend the rest of his life in prison.”

    Jeffrey Duane Noble, 41, pleaded guilty to shooting John Sciandra, 67, Sciandra’s 22-year-old daughter Jessica Sciandra and her boyfriend, 21-year-old Jordan Collier, on Dec. 8, 2017.

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  • Houston Man Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole for Killing Girlfriend in 2016

    Posted by · September 19, 2024 1:28 PM

  • Houston Man Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole for Killing Girlfriend in 2016

    A Houston man who killed his girlfriend in 2016 in retaliation for her filing domestic violence charges against him was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “Eight years is too long for anyone to have to wait for justice, but our Domestic Violence Division was able to get life without parole, which was the appropriate sentence,” Ogg said. “This case is horrible and shows exactly why we take every allegation of domestic violence so seriously — too often it escalates to homicide.”

    Jarvis Earl Hickerson, 40, was convicted by a jury of capital murder in an eight-day trial for killing 32-year-old Amalia Alexander on Sept. 19, 2016.

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  • Houston Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Double Murder

    Posted by · September 15, 2024 9:00 AM

  • Houston Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Double Murder

    A Houston man pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 60 years in prison last week for killing his girlfriend and his father in 2021, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “This was not an accident or mistake or anything other than an intentional double murder,” Ogg said. “The decisions that this defendant made have hurt two families immeasurably, and now he will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.”

    Larry Britton, 41, was facing a charge of capital murder for shooting Joanne Rosas, 40, and 69-year-old Larry Britton Sr. on Aug. 7, 2021.

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  • Houston Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Severely Wounding Precinct 4 Constable’s Deputy in 2017

    Posted by · September 14, 2024 9:42 AM

  • Houston Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Severely Wounding Precinct 4 Constable’s Deputy in 2017

    A Houston man was sentenced Thursday to 50 years for shooting a deputy constable in the legs seven times, severely wounding him in 2017, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “Our law enforcement officers are out on the streets every day and night to protect us and try to help,” Ogg said. “And when someone intentionally shoots one of our officers, we will take it to trial to get justice, to ensure that they spend the rest of their life behind bars.”

    Constantine Argyriou, 44, was sentenced by the same Harris County jury that convicted of him of aggravated assault of a public servant, a first-degree felony that carries the same range of punishment as a murder charge.

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  • Houston Man Sentenced to 99 Years for Role in Two Murders

    Posted by · September 06, 2024 6:02 AM

  • Houston Man Sentenced to 99 Years for Role in Two Murders

    A Houston man who was free on bail for a 2019 murder when he was involved in a fatal ambush was sentenced late Tuesday to 99 years in prison by a Harris County jury, District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

    “No family should ever have to hear that a loved one was gunned down on the street in front of their own home,” Ogg said. “We are glad the jury chose to stand with the families of this man’s victims and send him to prison, hopefully for the rest of his life.”

    Treveon Mykel Tatum, 23, was convicted of murder for shooting 19-year-old Ondreus Patterson outside the victim’s Barker-Cypress-area home on Oct. 26, 2019.

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