Jury gives man 99 years
Submitted by jcht2010 on
A Jackson County jury has sent a man to prison for 99 years after convicting him of two burglaries in Ganado.
Hilberto “Gilbert” Martinez, a confirmed gang member, was convicted of the crimes, despite his defense arguing that he should be charged with theft, not burglary, as he claimed to have permission to be on the property through his employer, Silver Star Electric.
The burglaries, committed between July 21 and 23 of 2014, happened at the home of Cody and Megan Parker. The home was in the process of being remodeled and was burglarized twice in a few days. Several high-end items like firearms, wide screen televisions, and even Cody Parker’s wedding ring, were stolen.
One of the guns, a Glock 17 9mm pistol, was a primary focus of the trial.
Jackson County District Attorney Bobby Bell said the Glock was found in Martinez’s possession during an unrelated offense in Victoria, linking him to the burglaries.
“The Glock is the only thing we got back, and it’s sad because some of those guns were passed down from Cody’s grandfather as family heirlooms,” said Bell.
Martinez’s argument that he had consent to be on the property was dissected by prosecutors, and focus turned to a check he’d cashed at a Mr. Payroll in Victoria. The check, written by his employer for $32, had been altered and cashed for $182, leading to the termination of his employment at Silver Star Electric.
Bell said Martinez was fired upon discovery of the check forgery, a significant detail in the case because it meant he was no longer an employee of Silver Star Electric by the time the robberies were committed.
“The theft charge wouldn’t even get it over a state jail felony,” said Bell, “Burglary made it a second degree, and his prior convictions make it a first, which is five to 99, or life.”
Martinez has a long list of prior convictions, beginning in his early teens, and at least three different birth dates and aliases on record. He is associated with the Tango Blast gang, as indicated by several gang related tattoos photographed while he was incarcerated. The gang is unique and dangerous in that there is no hierarchy, leaving “a bunch of loose cannons that do all kinds of crazy things because they’re not reigned in by anybody,” according to Bell.
Cody Parker said in a message that his family just wants to put this behind them, and that they’re grateful to the Sheriff’s office, the District Attorney and his staff, and the jury for ensuring that justice was served.
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