This week, Bexar County Grand Juries handed down nearly 270 felony indictments.
“The terms of the Grand Juries impaneled by the 144th District Court and the 226th District Court concluded this week. These two Grand Juries have handed down 1,815 felony indictments during their eight-week term. The hard work and commitment of these citizens of Bexar County is a vital part of the criminal justice system. We thank them for answering the call to serve our community,” said District Attorney Joe Gonzales.
Daniel Calvillo is charged with capital murder – other felony. The indictment alleges that on Dec. 9, 2020, Calvillo intentionally caused the death of Giovanna Barrera by shooting Barrera with a deadly weapon (firearm) and Calvillo was in the course of committing or attempting to commit the offense of robbery of Giovanna Barrera. This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 399th District Court. Capital murder is punishable by life in prison without parole or death.
Jennifer Blankenship, Williams Blankenship and Lane Wootan are charged in separate indictments with murder. Each indictment alleges that on Dec. 8, 2020, Jennifer Blankenship, Williams Blankenship and Lane Wootan intentionally and knowingly caused the death of Josh Fowler by shooting Fowler with a deadly weapon (firearm). These cases are being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 399th District Court. Murder is a first degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
Kendall Blount is charged with murder. The indictment alleges that on Dec. 2, 2020, Blount intentionally and knowingly caused the death of Latoucha Green by striking green with the hand of Blount, grabbing Green with the hand of Blount, striking Green with an object unknown to the grand jury and striking Green against an object unknown to the grand jury. The indictment also alleges that Blount intentionally and knowingly committed or attempted to commit the felony offense of aggravated assault, and while in the course of or in furtherance of or in immediate flight from the commission or the attempted commission of this offense, Blount intentionally and knowingly caused the death of Green by using Blount’s hand that in the manner of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury and Green was a person with whom Blount has or has had a dating relationship. This case is being prosecuted by the Family Violence Division in the 187th District Court. Murder is a first degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
Damian Jimenez is charged with murder. The indictment alleges that on Sep. 20, 2020, Jimenez committed or attempted to commit the felony offense of injury to elderly, and while in the course of or furtherance of or in immediate flight from the commission or the attempted commission of this offense, Jimenez did then and there commit or attempt to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life, to-wit: striking Guadalupe Martinez with Jimenez’s hand and striking Martinez with Jimenez’s foot, thereby causing the death of Martinez. This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 437th District Court. Murder is a first degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
Mariah Flores is charged with failure to stop and render aid causing death. The indictment alleges that on Oct. 24, 2020, Flores intentionally and knowingly drove a vehicle that became involved in an accident that resulted in death to Alex Reyna, and Flores did thereafter, knowing said accident had occurred, intentionally and knowingly left the scene of said accident, without giving her name, address, registration number of the vehicle Flores was driving, or the name of Flores’s motor vehicle liability insurer to any person, and without rendering assistance to Reyna when it was apparent that Reyna was in need of medical treatment, and said accident resulted in the death of Reyna. This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 175th District Court. Failure to stop and render aid causing death is a second degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Tyler Cantu is charged with trafficking of a child, sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact. Count one of the three-count indictment alleges that on Nov. 4, Cantu knowingly engaged in trafficking a child younger than 18 years of age by transporting, harboring, enticing and providing her to another, namely, Gavin Lee Lopez, and by any means, caused that child to become a victim of sexual assault. Count two of the indictment alleges that Cantu committed sexual assault of the same child. Count three alleges that Cantu committed indecency with the child by contact. Trafficking of a child as alleged in count one of the indictment is a first degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
Gavin Lee Lopez is charged with trafficking of a child and sexual assault. Count one of the two-count indictment alleges that on Nov. 4, 2020, Lopez knowingly trafficked a child who was younger than 18 years of age by transporting, harboring, enticing and providing her to another, namely: Tyler Cantu, and by any means caused that child to become a victim of sexual assault and indecency with a child. Lopez is charged in count two of the indictment with intentionally and knowingly having sex with the same child that Lopez knew that as a result of mental disease or defect the victim was at the time of the sexual assault incapable either of appraising the nature of the act or of resisting it. Trafficking of a child as alleged in count one of the indictment is a first degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
Both Cantu and Lopez are being prosecuted by the Human Trafficking Unit, with Cantu’s case assigned to the 437th District Court and Lopez’s case assigned to the 379th District Court.
Michael Isaiah Hernandez is charged with manslaughter. The indictment alleges that on Nov. 21, 2020, Hernandez recklessly caused the death of Aaron Randy Lopez, Jr., by discharging a deadly weapon (firearm) at and in the direction of Lopez. This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 379th District Court. Manslaughter is a second degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Jason Timothy Chavez is charged in four separate indictments with promotion of child pornography. Each indictment alleges that on Nov. 20, 2020, Chavez intentionally or knowingly possessed with intent to promote visual material that visually depicted, and which Chavez knew visually depicted a child, who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the image of the child was made, engaging in sexual conduct. These cases are being prosecuted by the Public Integrity and Cyber Crime Unit in the 437th District Court. Promotion of child pornography is a second degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Charles Ruiz is charged with possession of child pornography in five separate indictments. The indictments allege that on Nov. 19, 2020, Ruiz did intentionally or knowingly possess visual material that visually depicted, and which Ruiz knew visually depicted a child, who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the image of the child was made, engaging in sexual conduct. These cases are being prosecuted by the Public Integrity and Cyber Crime Unit in the 187th District Court. Possession of child pornography is a third degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. A person charged by indictment is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury or a judge. Because these cases are pending, we can make no further comment on them.
Copies of indictments may be obtained online from the Bexar County District Clerk. Information on court settings should be requested from the court or may be found by looking up the case online here.