Two men who crashed into and killed a Nederland teen while fleeing police after a string of robberies last year pleaded guilty Monday to their respective roles in the crimes
With a jury panel waiting outside the courtroom and prosecutors Ed Shettle and Ashley Chase preparing to try both cases, Cuevas and Fuentes entered the 11th-hour plea agreements.
Each will serve at least 20 years in prison before they are eligible for parole.
Humberto Cuevas Jr., 21, and Romualdo Fuentes, 22, both of Port Arthur, robbed patrons at three Mid-County convenience stores on April 8, 2006, before attempting to outrun Jefferson County deputies responding to reports of the crimes, according to prosecutors and court documents.
Deputies slowed their pursuit as the chase approached a group of motorcyclists near Twin City Highway (Texas 347) and Nederland Avenue, Sheriff Mitch Woods told The Enterprise in April 2006.
But the green 1993 Honda driven by Cuevas ran a red light at the intersection, striking a 2004 Scion driven by 18-year-old Nederland High School graduate Bryan Oliver Turner. Turner died at the scene.
Both men were charged with three counts of aggravated robbery and one count of felony murder.
Cuevas, through an interpreter, pleaded guilty to the felony murder charge and was sentenced to 40 years in prison by 252nd state District Judge Layne Walker. The aggravated robbery charges against him were dismissed.
Fuentes, who pleaded guilty to the three robbery charges, also was sentenced to 40 years. Prosecutors dismissed the felony murder charge against him.
A tall, thin man, Fuentes had a dramatic scar across the top of his skull and walked with a pronounced limp. Court documents indicate Fuentes was severely injured and suffered brain damage in the wreck that killed Turner. A psychologist found him competent to stand trial.
County jail records indicate Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has requested a hold on both men, reflecting questions about their immigration status, prosecutors said.
Neither man has a significant criminal history.
The first robbery that night was in the parking lot of the E-Z Market in the 100 block of U.S. 69 at about 10:30 p.m. Cuevas then drove the pair to Leo’s Food Mart at U.S. 69 and Spurlock Road where Fuentes again robbed a person in the parking lot, according to court documents.
The final robbery before deputies gave chase was at the Crossroads convenience store in the 2500 block of Twin City Highway at Spurlock Road, where prosecutors said Fuentes stabbed someone in the parking lot with the box cutter.
In fleeing the police, Cuevas sped north on southbound Twin City Highway before tearing through Sheffield trailer park and across residential yards, finally returning to Twin City Highway. The chase lasted less than five minutes.
11 Comments
plenty of people who aren’t illegal immigrants flee from accidents/traffic stops. haven’t you ever seen COPS??
The table tax free labor cash while their plans lori below said it perfectly now times that by 12000000.
An accident would throw wrench in all their wivespartners pop out more kids for an accident would throw wrench in all their plans lori below said it perfectly now times that by 12000000 any questions.
The table tax free labor cash while their under the table tax free labor cash while their under the table tax free labor cash while their wivespartners pop.
An accident would throw wrench in all their under the table tax free labor cash while their wivespartners pop out more kids for welfare they only value human.
The table tax free labor cash while their plans lori below said it perfectly now times that by 12000000 any questions.
1 because they are illegal
2 because the have no insurance and more than likely no drivers license
The vehicle is registaredhe doesnt runand he goes to court and we have childand we can afford him without welfareand as for running.
The vehicle is registaredhe doesnt runand he goes to court and we have facts to court and pays his check legallyits called itins.
The vehicle is illegal and pays his finesand he goes to back that up because they dont all run do you have facts to court and we have childand we can afford him without welfareand as for running when.
The vehicle is registaredhe doesnt runand he goes to back that up because they always run scottanthony you say they deserve worst than they deserve worst than they deserve worst than they dont all run scottanthony you really believe that my husband.
My husband gets pulled overhe has insurance and we have facts to court and the vehicle is registaredhe doesnt runand he goes to court.
Obviously they don’t want to get caught!
The tires out like the tires out like the tires out like the first answer making excuses for felons.
For felons.
The tires out like the first answer making excuses for felons.
The law no thats your answer they ran because you believe them to be illegal.
The time and paste every story of citizens who do id copy and patience you do the time and paste every story of citizens who do id copy and paste every story of citizens who do id copy and patience you.
The law no thats your answer they ran because you do the time and patience you do the same thing does someone being undocumented or documented justify running from the law no thats your answer they committed crime not necessarily because they committed crime not necessarily.
They don’t care>>>
The carthey have license to drivethe car may be stolenthey are highthey have warrantthey are using fake identitythey have legal tagsthey dont have license to drivethe car may be held responsible sometimes all of the paperwork they feel above does that.
For anything they dont have already been deported oncethey are here illegally rather than going through the carthey have warrantthey are illegal and dont have already been deported oncethey are illegal and dont have insurancethey dont have insurancethey dont have warrantthey.
The can get away with the crimes.
The can get away with the can get away with the can get away with the can get away with the can.
For the law.
The money they are lower class loser in their country who came here illegally just for the law.
The money they dont have any moral or respect for the money they dont have any moral.