District Attorney Best Compelled to Explain 'Disappointing' Verdict in Murder Trial

SAN ANGELO, TX – A Tom Green County jury found Jose Angel Trevino not guilty on all counts in a weeklong murder trial which ended at the courthouse Saturday morning.  Following the conclusion of the Park 2400 murder trial, 119th District Attorney John Best, who lost the trial on behalf of the State of Texas, shared his thoughts on the outcome through a news release to all local media outlets.  

The following is a release sent out by Best's Office:

Circumstances of the Case:

On June 19, 2021, the San Angelo Police Department began investigating an Aggravated Assault that took place shortly after midnight in the parking lot of the Penny Tap House Bar located at 2412 College Hills Blvd.. Detectives learned Jason Garivay had been violently assaulted by Joe Angel Trevino, Jr.. While Trevino fled the scene, a friend transported Garivay to Shannon Medical Center for treatment.

Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors found Garivay in cardiac arrest in the passenger seat of his vehicle. Although Garivay was resuscitated within a few minutes of arrival, he suffered severe brain damage resulting from a lack of oxygen.

Garivay succumbed to his injuries nine days later after being taken off of life support. Trevino was later arrested and charged with Garivay’s murder. On September 14, 2021, a Tom Green County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Trevino with one count of Murder, and one count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. The case proceeded to trial on March 6, 2023.

Outcome of the Trial: 

At trial, the State offered the testimony of twenty-one witnesses over the course of five days. Trevino testified that he acted in self-defense. The jury deliberated for approximately eight (8) hours before finding the defendant not guilty of the indicted charges on March 11, 2023.

Statement from DA Best: 

An individual’s right to a trial from an impartial jury of their peers is the bedrock of our criminal justice system. This system relies heavily on the participation of the citizens from our community who are selected to serve on our juries. From the presentment of a case to a grand jury which indicts for probable cause, to the prosecution of a case before a trial jury which determines guilt or innocence beyond a reasonable doubt, it is the job of the District Attorney to seek justice.

The District Attorney’s Office went to great lengths to ensure that the jury in this case had the opportunity to examine all of the evidence, and to hear from all of the witnesses involved. The jury spent an entire week carefully listening to the evidence presented by the state and the defense, and spent over eight hours deliberating, before making what they believed to be right decision. Although the outcome was disappointing from the State’s perspective, this case, like every case brought before our District Courts, was tried in the interest of justice and with respect for the difficult circumstances in this case.

I want to thank the jury for their service, their careful consideration of the evidence, and for their respect for the importance of the high burden of proof they had to consider in this case. I also want to express my sincere condolences to Jason Garivay’s family for their loss associated with this tragic incident.