A 48-year-old Houston man was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday for repeatedly stalking and harassing a woman with whom he had a prior relationship, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Stalking is yet another form of domestic violence, and we will do everything possible to keep victims safe when they are facing this sort of danger,” Ogg said. “We sought justice in this case, and hopefully the victim can move forward with her life now.”

Derek W. Brown was convicted after a two-day bench trial in March of stalking a woman he had a relationship with in the past.

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A 35-year-old Houston man who held a woman captive in a house while beating and torturing her until she gave him money and signed over the title to her Mercedes-Benz has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Domestic violence can take many different forms, which is why we take these cases so seriously,” Ogg said. “This man preys on women and when they don’t do what he wants, the violence escalates. We are glad this woman survived her ordeal and got justice.”

Andrew R. Castillo, 35, was convicted by a Harris County jury and sentenced to 40 years in prison earlier this month after six days of trial for brutally beating and burning a 42-year-old woman he had been in a relationship with before the attack.

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A Houston man was sentenced to 50 years in prison last week for killing a former high school classmate during a gathering of old friends at the Atascocita High School football field in 2020, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Far too often we see disagreements, arguments and fights escalate into murders because someone wants to start shooting,” Ogg said. “This young man had a promising future — he had just signed with a university to go play football — and his life was ended in an instant because of a gun. We work hard every day not just to get justice for the families, but to try to end gun violence.”

A jury sentenced Jaqwaun Glenn Pradia, 22, to 50 years on Thursday after convicting him of murder during a weeklong trial for the fatal shooting of Eric Demetris Willis about 10:45 a.m. March 15, 2020.

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A 41-year-old habitual offender who lured a 16-year-old to a motel using social media and then held her at gunpoint, beat and sexually assaulted her in 2021 agreed to two 25-year prison sentences this week, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“These kinds of predators are always looking for ways to hurt and take advantage of people,” Ogg said. “By making a plea agreement in this case, we can put him in prison for decades and spare the victim from having to testify about her ordeal.”

David St. John pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexual assault of a child between the age of 14 and 17 in exchange for the 25-year sentence. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of felon in possession of a weapon in exchange for a 25-year sentence, which will run concurrently.

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A habitual offender who fatally shot a man during a late-night argument in front of an Acres Homes convenience store in 2020 was sentenced to 80 years in prison this week, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Our urban areas are plagued by violence, especially gun violence, and that is why we work so hard to get justice in cases like this,” Ogg said. “This family had to bury a loved one because this defendant started an argument and then decided to start shooting.”

Demondrian Denshae McWright, 33, was sentenced by a judge late Monday after a Harris County jury convicted him of murder following a six-day trial.

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The Houston woman who killed 5-year-old Samuel Olson in 2021 was sentenced Wednesday to 52 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“This woman robbed the world of a little boy with a big smile and bright future, and there is no prison sentence long enough for someone like her,” Ogg said. “We have now guaranteed that she has been held accountable, will serve decades in prison and can never appeal her sentence, and that is, in small measure, justice.”

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A Houston man who jumped bail before his trial in 2021 and was rearrested pleaded guilty to murder this week and was sentenced to 50 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“This is a repeat offender who did everything possible to escape responsibility and accountability for his crimes,” Ogg said. “We have finally been able to deliver justice for the victim’s family.”

Kevin Wayne Calhoun, 32, was facing life in prison without parole if convicted of capital murder in the home-invasion death of 25-year-old Chad Reese on Aug. 5, 2016.

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A Baytown man was sentenced to 60 years in prison on the eve of trial after pleading guilty to murder for robbing and killing a 65-year-old man who used a wheelchair, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“It is important to remember that our elderly and disabled neighbors are vulnerable to scams, schemes and violence,” Ogg said. “This kind and generous man was killed by people who took advantage of him just because they could.”

Marcus Donnell Gilbert, 41, was scheduled to begin trial this week, but instead he pleaded guilty on Friday to murder in the death of John Henry Fernandez, who was found on Jan. 2, 2018. His hands and feet had been bound and his mouth had been taped shut. He had suffocated.

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