Texas Executes the First Inmate in Nearly a Year

 Posted on May 25, 2021 in Criminal Defense

Arguably, the worst sentence that a person can receive for being convicted of a crime is execution. Execution, also called capital punishment, is a hotly debated topic. Many people believe that we should not have the authority to decide whether a person lives or dies. Others believe that execution is the only appropriate punishment for crimes such as murdering another human. Texas is notorious for its attitudes and actions surrounding the execution of prisoners. Recently, the state made headlines when it executed its first prisoner in nearly a year, only the third execution since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Man Is Executed by Lethal Injection

The state of Texas added another inmate Wednesday to its extensive list of executions performed since 1976. The 41-year-old man was executed by lethal injection at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville after spending more than two decades in prison. He was convicted of murdering his 83-year-old aunt in her home in 1999 after he demanded that she lend him money and she refused. The man was also convicted of stealing property from his aunt’s home at the same time as the murder. He was 20 years old at the time of the offense.

Texas Sentences Resulting in the Death Penalty

In Texas, the death penalty can only be imposed if the person is convicted of a capital felony, the most serious classification of felonies in Texas. Capital felonies do not automatically come with a death sentence. A capital felony can also result in a life sentence without parole, but the prosecution can seek the death penalty if they feel it is necessary. Only the most heinous crimes are charged as capital felonies. Murder of a police officer, murdering for money or paying someone to murder another person, murdering a child, and murdering a person during the commission of another felony - like burglary - are all charged as capital felonies in Texas.

Contact a Floresville, TX Criminal Defense Attorney

There are various criminal charges that could result in the death penalty in Texas. If you are facing criminal charges, you should consult with a skilled Wilson County criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. At BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys, we have successfully defended clients against various criminal charges, from misdemeanors to felony crimes. To discuss your specific situation with one of our attorneys, call our office today at 830-769-1010 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://apnews.com/article/texas-executions-lifestyle-747fc8994706df9dee9e64909c464b99

https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/death_row/dr_executed_offenders.html

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/19/us/quintin-jones-execution-texas/index.html

https://documents.deathpenaltyinfo.org/pdf/FactSheet.pdf

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.12.htm