Jefferson County District Attorney Keith Giblin announced March 13, a jury sentenced 46-year-old Recarido Antonio Terrell to 40 years in prison for felony aggravated assault, according to a press release.
According information presented during the trial, on July 13, 2022, Terrell was driving east-bound on Interstate10 around 11 p.m. when he and his female passenger began arguing.
According to witness testimony, Terrell produced a handgun and fired at least one shot in the direction of the passenger before she decided to jump out of the moving vehicle. Terrell then stopped and exited his vehicle and shot the victim as she tried to run away.
The victim was able to escape and make her way to a nearby business where an employee called 911. Emergency personnel responded and the victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Once released from the hospital, the victim was informed that several hours after she was shot by Terrell, law enforcement officials discovered Terrell’s vehicle outside of her burning home. The home was a total loss.
During the punishment phase of the trial, Prosecutor Tommy L. Coleman put on evidence and witness testimony showing Terrell had several previous felony convictions out of Mississippi, that Terrell had a recent Jefferson County arrest for possessing Fentanyl and that while awaiting trial in this case, jail staff found a home-made weapon in his jail cell.
Coleman pointed out that Terrell’s previous prison sentences, when combined, totaled 35 years.
“Despite having been previously sentenced to prison for a total of 35 years, he has remained undeterred and unrehabilitated,” Coleman argued to the jury.
The jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning the 40-year sentence. Presiding Judge Larry Thorne immediately sentenced Terrell in accordance with the jury’s verdict.
Terrell faces up to 99 years confinement in Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He will be eligible for parole when his time served equals one-half of his sentence.