Punishment Phase in Allen Garcia Case
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Sep 17, 2011, 0 Comments
(Laredo, Tx) The jury is now deliberating punishment in the case of Josepth Allen Garcia. Closing arguments in the punishment phase ended at 4:50p.m. friday afternoon. District Attorney Alaniz echoed the words of Mario Alberto Gonzalez’ sister, Valeria, when he said, “Do the right thing. It all comes back to you, Joseph. It all comes back to you”.
He asked that the jurors give Garcia the maximum punishment, which is 99 years for Murder along with a ten thousand dollar fine and for each count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, he asked for the maximum of twenty years with a ten thousand dollar fine. (total of 3 counts of Agg Assault). He asked that jurors deny him probation on each criminal count.
Alaniz thanked the jurors for their service and told them that the sad and tragic story that began on December 13, 2003 ended today. He said that it has been a long eight years to get here but “not because we sat on our hands”. “We are here eight years later because he ran from the law. “
Alaniz went through a top ten list of reasons why they should give Garcia the max, including the fact that he was on a list of the ten most wanted fugitives in America and because, “he has no remorse…absolutely no remorse”.
Former judge Manuel “Meme” Flores, closed for the defense and described to the jury the difficult childhood that Garcia had when he was without parents at the age of four months and had to be raised by his grandparents. He explained of the difficulty he suffered due to his dyslexia and how his difficult life caused him to turn to drugs. Those drugs, he explained, “do not excuse anything but it mitigates your state of mind”.
Jurors in the trial of Joseph Allen Garcia returned with a “Guilty” verdict at approximately 11:40p.m. thursday night.
