An East Texas man who killed a mother and three children in a drunken driving crash in Houston was sentenced to four life sentences Monday, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“We see more deaths from drunk driving between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day than any other month a year,” Ogg said. “This heartbreaking case shows that a single person’s irresponsibility and bad decisions can result in the deaths of multiple people who are completely innocent, including kids.”

Daniel Canada, 37, was sentenced to four life sentences by state District Judge Colleen Gaido on Monday after he was convicted last week of four counts of intoxication manslaughter in a three-week trial. The life sentences will run concurrently.

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A Houston man who robbed a shoe store and then, while on bond, fatally shot a Texas Southern University student during an armed robbery was sentenced to 45 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Sunday.

“It is obvious that gun crime is out of control when a suspect who is free on bond for armed robbery can shoot someone while committing another armed robbery,” Ogg said. “In this case, the defendant killed someone while trying to steal marijuana and a video game console, and now he will spend decades in prison.”

Shanden Powell, 24, pleaded guilty on Friday to murder in exchange for 45 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in exchange for 40 years in prison. Those sentences will run concurrently.

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A documented member of the Gangster Disciples, an infamous street gang that also operates in prison, was sentenced by a judge this week to 25 years for murder, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Gang members terrorize communities and work together to commit more crimes,” Ogg said. “When a gang member uses a gun to commit a horrific and random act of violence like this, it is imperative that we get justice for the victim, their family and the community.”

Terrance Thomas, 24, was sentenced by a judge to 25 years in prison Tuesday for the murder of Jaquan Thompson, 23, on June 10, 2020.

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A Pearland man was sentenced to 82 years in prison for brutally beating and sexually assaulting a man at a northwest Harris County bar, District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Tuesday.

“This was a savage and unprovoked attack on a stranger that continued to escalate until the authorities broke it up,” Ogg said. “Random violence can never be tolerated, and we agree with the jury that this man should be sent to prison for decades.”

Felix Vale, 38, was convicted of aggravated sexual assault Tuesday for his role in beating a fellow patron at a bar unconscious and then continuing to beat and assault him on Feb. 17, 2021.

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Two men were sentenced this week to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing a friend they got in a fight with in 2021, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“This was a brutal and senseless murder carried out by two young men who will now spend decades behind bars,” Ogg said. “There are consequences for every action and in this case, justice was served.”

Leroy Lopez and Christopher Paz, both 19, were sentenced this week after admitting to fatally shooting 17-year-old Abraham Mata on April 4, 2021.

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A Houston man who killed his wife at her Chinatown beauty school and staged the scene to look like a robbery was sentenced to 55 years in prison on Thursday, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Domestic violence can affect any community, and far too often we see it escalate to murder, like in this case,” Ogg said. “This defendant did everything possible to escape responsibility, but in the end, her family got justice. We thank the jurors for their service and for considering all the evidence in this brutal attack.”

Trang Vu, a 52-year-old who now goes by the name Itani Milleni, was charged with murder four years after the 2015 killing of his estranged wife, Tuyet Ngoc Tran.

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A Houston man with five prior convictions for driving while intoxicated was sentenced this week to 35 years in prison for killing another driver in a drunken driving crash in 2018, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Saturday.

“A completely innocent father of four lost his life because this man could not stop drinking and driving,” Ogg said. “When repeat offenders continue to drive drunk time after time, it means no one is safe on our streets and highways.”

Owen McNett, 50, was convicted by a jury last month, and he chose to have his punishment determined by State District Judge Lori Chambers Gray. After hearing from McNett’s defense counsel, the judge put off the punishment hearing until this week. He was sentenced late Wednesday.

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"Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy. When we get credible complaints of election irregularities, we are statutorily required to investigate. That’s why we’ve called for the assistance of the Texas Rangers. The results of their investigation will be turned over to a Harris County grand jury. We do this regardless of the party affiliation of the complainants. After the 2020 election, we charged three Democrats and two Republicans. It is my duty as the elected District Attorney to follow the evidence and follow the law, and I will."

– Kim Ogg, Harris County District Attorney