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Plea agreements reached in 2009 Yoakum murder case

Shooter sentenced to 40 years in prison

Jordan Hessler
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  • Sonny Long •
  • Originally published January 12, 2011 at 5 p.m., updated January 12, 2011 at 11:10 p.m.

  • CERVANTES MURDER TIMELINESept. 27, 2009 - Teodora Cervantes, 70, shot and killed in his Yoakum home. His 18-year-old grandson, who was wounded, is robbed of $90.

    Oct. 2009 - Jordan Hessler, Jacob Reynosa, Hugo Ibarra Anthony Rocha and Travis ...

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    • CERVANTES MURDER TIMELINESept. 27, 2009 - Teodora Cervantes, 70, shot and killed in his Yoakum home. His 18-year-old grandson, who was wounded, is robbed of $90.

    Oct. 2009 - Jordan Hessler, Jacob Reynosa, Hugo Ibarra Anthony Rocha and Travis Brazil are arrested for the crime.

    Oct. 2009 - Reynosa, in a statement to police, identifies Hessler as the shooter.

    Nov. 2009 - Lavaca County grand jury indicts the five for capital murder and felony murder.

    Dec.15, 2010 - Hessler, in a plea agreement, is sentenced to 40 years in prison for felony murder.

    Jan. 11, 2011 - Travis Brazil sentenced to 30 years for aggravated robbery.

    Jan. 18, 2011 - Anthony Rocha and Jacob Reynosa expected in court to plead to aggravated robbery charges.

    Feb. 14, 2011 - Hugo Ibarra expected in court to be sentenced to 30 years for aggravated robbery.

    SOURCE: Lavaca County District Attorney's Office, previous Advocate articles

The man who shot Teodoro Cervantes to death in his Yoakum home on Sept. 27, 2009 has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for murder.

Jordan Hessler, 20 at the time of the shooting, was convicted of felony murder after a plea agreement with the Lavaca County District Attorney's Office.

Hessler was sentenced on Dec. 15 by District Judge W.C. Kirkendall.

District Attorney Heather Miller said plea agreements have also been reached with two other defendants in the case and are expected with two others.

On Tuesday, Travis Brazil, 16 at the time of the crime but certified as an adult, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for aggravated robbery.

The other two men charged in the crime, Anthony Rocha and Jacob Reynosa are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

A fifth defendant, Hugo Ibarra is expected to be sentenced to 30 years in prison on Feb. 14, Miller said.

"After speaking with the surviving victim and looking at the evidence, a plea agreements seemed appropriate for this case," said the district attorney. "The offenders are all very young, yet it was a heinous crime."

Miller said the Cervantes family was satisfied with the pleas.

"Nothing can bring back their loved one, but this provides them some closure without having to go through the rigors and emotion of a trial," Miller said.

Cervantes, 70, was killed when the men robbed his 18-year-old grandson of the $90 he had in his wallet. The younger Cervantes was wounded in the attack.




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Comments

  • el69runner el69runner Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    "The offenders are all very young, yet it was a heinous crime."
    Youths have been known to commit every crime their adult counterparts are capable of, from graffiti and drug possession to rape and murder.
    This was a senseless crime for so many individuals to commit for $90.00.
    Sorry for the needless grief the family is experiencing.

    January 13, 2011 at 6:39 a.m.
  • abovblo abovblo Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    I believe justice is served. My husband's Godfather was a great man. May his family find peace with this.

    January 12, 2011 at 6:34 p.m.