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Witness testifies victim accused of being snitch

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  • Gheni Platenburg •
  • Originally published January 24, 2012 at 7:21 p.m., updated March 14, 2012 at 5:20 p.m.

  • WHO'S WHO?

  • Presiding Judge: District Judge Robert CheshireProsecutor: Victoria County District Attorney Steve Tyler Defense Attorney: Robert Saldana is represented by attorney Bill White, while Robert Lindstrom is represented by attorney Alex Luna.

A 2006 shooting that injured Paul Benavides was just one of multiple assassination attempts made on his life, a witness said during the first day of the trial of Robert Lindstrom and Robert Saldana.

Lindstrom, also known as "Stutter," and Saldana, aka "Wedo," both of Victoria, are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity by conspiring to cause serious bodily harm to Benavides, aka "Pow Wow," by shooting him.

All three men are members of the Hermanos Pistoleros Latinos street gang.

Covered in tattoos and dressed in a yellow jail jump suit, witness Raul Morino Gonzales testified that the hit on Benavides' life came after he testified against fellow HPL member Joe Mendoza in the case of the 2003 shooting death of 6-year-old Robert "Polo" Conchola.

Gonzales, a former officer with HPL, said Mendoza tasked Lindstrom and Saldana as well as Jeffrey Soto, Claro Lopez and Marcus Perez with getting rid of Benavides.

"They did their cameo - a direct order to a gang member to complete a specific job," said Gonzales, 47.

After several tries from 2003 to 2006, Benavides was finally shot while on a lunch break from his job.

Benavides was hit in the arm and hip, said Victoria County District Attorney Steve Tyler during opening arguments.

"It almost became a running joke that Stutter with his poor eyesight couldn't shoot Benavides from 10 feet away," said Victoria County District Attorney Steve Tyler. "It was a sore point."

Lindstrom's court-appointed attorney Alex Luna questioned the reliability of Gonzales and other witnesses expected to testify for the state during the trial.

Gonzales, who is serving 80 years in prison on charges for drug possession and engaging in organized criminal activity, agreed to testify against the defendants in exchange for a lenient punishment against his wife, Cynthia Gonzales, who faced charges of drug trafficking and attempted murder.

Cynthia Gonzales is on probation.

"Those witnesses, you could describe them as being prostitutes. They have sold their information and the state has bought this information," Luna said during opening arguments. "The evidence is going to show that Lindstrom didn't participate or conspire in the shooting of Paul Benavides."

The trial will resume at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.




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Comments

  • concerned_citizen concerned_citizen Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Stories like these make me SICK!!!! Life is hard enough as it is and these dumb a+@#% have to run around the streets "trying" to act like they are some big shots. I would be embarrassed not proud to walk around with my pants or shorts hanging to my knees not knowing a thing about what life is really about!!! Stick all the cholos, gang bangers, or whatever they like to be called in a big hole in the desert and let them all go at each other. They should have joined the military so they could have been sent out to the Mideast and faced the crazy Taliban. SEE HOW TOUGH YOU IDIOTS WOULD BE THEN!!!

    January 26, 2012 at 8:45 a.m.
  • cafevida cafevida Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Jeffrey Soto was scheduled for trial back in October WITH these 2 F!@#^" and Trial was postponed because Victoria couldn't find enough unbiased jury members. Mr. Soto hired Tali Villafranca as his attorney and the other 2 have court appointed attorneys. Hmmm!!! I asked the same thing.

    However, what a shame the gang bangers easily can take Orders from punks/animals BUT yet can't take out the trash, clean their room and/or run the vacuum when they are told by their parents or grandparents. Typing this and sitting here SMH – Shaking My Head

    Rereading a past article I came across this “serving as his "padrino," (godfather) Martinez said he quickly moved up the ranks from esquina to "prospecto" (instructor) to finally a "carnal" (friend or member).” Maybe they should have joined the Boy Scouts and maybe they would have had a better outcome in life since they seem to move up in ranks pretty quickly.

    January 26, 2012 at 8:31 a.m.
  • oilhand11 oilhand11 Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    what happend with the others that are mentioned in this article? Jeffrey Soto, Claro Lopez and Marcus Perez ? are they awaiting trial or did they turn and strike a plea deal with our wonderful DA?

    January 25, 2012 at 10:18 a.m.
  • familyman1122 familyman1122 Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Bill White defended a friend of a friend. He got 3 life terms in prison. White called no witnesses and did not do his job in defending the suspect. He just let Tyler do his thing. I'll bet that this HPL guy is going up the creek without a paddle. Because of Bill White not doing his job.

    January 25, 2012 at 6:46 a.m.