This week, Bexar County Grand Juries handed down 228 felony indictments.
Daniel Barragan and Eduardo Delarosa are charged in separate indictments with multiple felony offenses.
- Capital murder of multiple persons: The indictments allege that on Aug. 15, 2021, Barragan and Delarosa intentionally and knowingly caused the deaths of April Rodriguez, Dan Martinez and Mauro Rodriguez by shooting them with a deadly weapon (firearm) and that all three murders were committed during the same criminal transaction;
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon: The indictments allege that on Aug. 15, 2021, Barragan and Delarosa used and exhibited a deadly weapon (firearm) and Barragan intentionally, knowingly and recklessly caused bodily injury to Joseph Wolfe by shooting Wolfe with said deadly weapon;
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon: The indictments allege that on Aug. 15, 2021, Barragan and Delarosa used and exhibited a deadly weapon (firearm) and Barragan intentionally, knowingly and recklessly caused bodily injury to Magda Garcia by shooting Garcia with said deadly weapon.
These cases are being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 379th District Court. Capital murder is punishable by life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
Jose Constancio Gonzales is charged with murder. The indictment alleges that on Aug. 14, 2021, Gonzales committed or attempted to commit the felony offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and while in the course of or in furtherance of or in immediate flight from the commission or the attempted commission of this offense, Gonzales did then and there commit or attempted to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life, to-wit: striking Mario Renteria with a motor vehicle that in the manner of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury, thereby causing the death of Renteria. This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 187th District Court. Murder is a first degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
George Joshua Washington is charged with continuous trafficking of persons. The first count of the indictment alleges that during a period that was 30 or more days in duration, to wit: from April 1, 2016 through Oct. 5, 2021, Washington engaged two or more times in conduct that constitutes trafficking of persons, namely: Washington knowingly harbored, enticed, recruited and transported two victims and through force and coercion caused them to engage in prostitution. The second count of the indictment charges Washington with aggravated promotion of prostitution. It alleges that on Jan. 4, 2021, Washington knowingly controlled, supervised and managed a prostitution enterprise that used two or more prostitutes. This case is being prosecuted by the Human Trafficking Division in the 399th District Court. Continuous trafficking of persons is a first degree felony punishable by 25 to 99 years or life in prison.
Justin Ortiz is charged with manslaughter. The indictment alleges that on Feb. 8, 2021, Ortiz recklessly caused the death of John Mendoza by driving and operating a motor vehicle at a speed that was not reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing, failing to apply the brakes in a timely and reasonable manner, and failing to avoid driving said motor vehicle into oncoming traffic. This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 175th District Court. Manslaughter is a second degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
Fidel Ayala is charged with seven counts of intentionally/knowingly causing bodily injury to a child. The indictment alleges on seven occasions, from Jan. 29, 2015 through April 6, 2021, Ayala intentionally and knowingly caused bodily injury to two children 14 years of age or younger by striking them with his hands, a towel, a flashlight, a penny, a hose, a wire, a belt, a phone and an object unknown to the grand jury, and that he bit one of the children. This case is being prosecuted by the Family Violence Division in the 187th District Court. Intentionally/knowingly causing bodily injury to a child is a third degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
Ayala’s co-defendant is listed in a separate indictment. Migdelia Salazar is charged with intentionally/knowingly causing bodily injury to a child by omission. The two count indictment alleges that on April 6, 2021, Salazar intentionally and knowingly, by omission caused bodily injury to two children who were 14 years of age or younger, and Salazar had a legal duty to act and failed to do so in that that Salazar failed to protect the children and that she failed to provide adequate care for them. This case is being prosecuted by the Family Violence Division in the 187th District Court. Intentionally/knowingly causing bodily injury to a child by omission is a third degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
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 and potentially other cases are either pending or may be under investigation, we can make no further comment on them.
Copies of indictments may be requested from the Bexar County District Clerk. Information on court settings can be found by searching the case online or directly from the court.
This week concludes the terms of the 226th and 399th District Courts Grand Juries.
“We thank these Bexar County citizens serving these last six weeks. A Grand Jury is a vital part of the criminal justice system. During their terms, these two panels reviewed hundreds of cases to determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed in our community. Without the Grand Jury, we cannot seek justice for victims of crime,” said District Attorney Joe Gonzales.