Two San Angelo Men Get Prison Terms, Another Gets Temporary Reprieve

Today was a busy day at the Tom Green County Courthouse. Three men, Andrew Crittenden, 26, Nigel Parker, 20, and Daniel Martin Enriquez, 19, appeared before Judges Barbara Walther and Ben Woodward for a Plea Hearing and Plea of True to Motion to Revoke. While Crittenden, who is charged with Abandon/Endanger Child Criminal Negligence, received a brief reprieve, Parker (charged with Sexual Assault of a Child and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender) and Enriquez (charged with Injury to a Child, Intentional Serious Bodily Injury) weren't so lucky.

The State Versus Nigel Parker

Today, Nigel Parker pleaded guilty to not one, but two charges in Judge Ben Woodward’s 119th Tom Green County District Court. The 20 year-old’s first charge was the violation of probation. He was previously placed on deferred adjudication in the sexual assault of a child younger than 17 years of age, a Second Degree Felony. Parker also failed to register as a sex offender, which is a Third Degree Felony.

Parker made his way to the front of the court in his orange jail suit with chains wrapped around his wrists, and sat next to his attorney Joe Hernandez.

At that point, Woodward explained the reasons the State motioned to revoke probation and the charge Parker would plead true to. Woodward explained the Second Degree Felony could include up to 2-20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. As for failing to register as a sex offender, Parker could face 2 to 10 years in TDCJ and a fine up to $10,000.

Woodward stated there were 13 paragraphs of violations, and asked Parker how he pleaded.

At first, Parker said, "Not True," but when asked again, he said, "True."

"So you're saying all those are true?" asked Woodward.

"Yes, sir," Parker responded.

Because he pleaded guilty of violating probation and in failing to register as a sex offender, Assistant District Attorney Jason Ferguson recommended 7 years in TDCJ with original restitution and court fines of $1,500 and $32.77 with no credit for time served or payments made. For the failure to register as a sex offender charge, Ferguson recommended 5 years confinement in TDCJ.

"I will accept both of those recommendations," Woodward said.

Thus, Parker’s probation was revoked, and he was found guilty of the original charge of Sexual Assault of a Child younger than 17 and sentenced to 7 years in prison. Furthermore, Parker was given an additional 5 years in prison for failing to register; the time is be served concurrently with the other sentence. However, Parker was given credit for time served. In the first case, those months included Sept. 30, 2014 to Nov. 3, 2014, March 2015 to October 5, 2015, and March 12, 2016 through today. Parker, for the second charge, received credit for time spent from March 12, 2016 through today.

The State Versus Daniel Enriquez

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Also, in Judge Ben Woodward’s 119th Tom Green County District Court appeared 19-year-old Daniel Enriquez, who pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious bodily injury to an infant under the age of 1.

On or around May 7, 2015, Enriquez’s child was transported to Shannon Medical Center where a medical scan revealed that the infant had received a severe head injury. Enriquez, who was alone with the child, said the victim dropped a bottle of juice on her head, and a short time later, he noticed "that she was not acting right." Therefore, he pressed the victim's head with his hands and stated that he may have applied too much pressure and caused injury. However, when additional scans were made, it was discovered that the child had two skull fractures, a fractured humerus, and a fractured femur. According to a complaint written by Detective Bobby Elrod, “The Defendant’s explanation of how the victim received the injuries did not match the type of injuries discovered during the medical scans.” Consult San Angelo LIVE!’s previous report of the incident for more information.  

When asked how he pleaded to the charge, Enriquez responded in a low voice, "Guilty."

Woodward explained the first degree felony could include 5-99 years in prison or life. Furthermore, the fine can be up to $10,000.

After hearing Enriquez’s plea, Woodward agreed to the State’s recommendation of 10 years in TDCJ confinement.

"Is that what you anticipated?" Judge Woodward asked.

"Yes, sir," Enriquez responded.

Judge Woodward asked about the child, and Enriquez's attorney noted that the child is now living with an aunt. However, Woodward said that the case could still be viewed as family violence and more charges could be forthcoming later on. However, for now, the charge stands as is.

"This is a very serious offense," Judge Woodward told Enriquez. "You'll have a while to think about it."

The State Versus Andrew Crittenden

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Many of our readers may remember Andrew Crittenden, 26, who is charged with recklessly endangering his own child. Review San Angelo LIVE!’s previous story here.

Crittenden appeared in Judge Barbara Walter’s 51^st District Court this morning. However, the case was rescheduled after his attorney disagreed with some of the language in the complaint. The section reads, “...the defendant did not voluntarily deliver the child to a designated emergency care provider.” Crittenden was attempting to take his child for emergency care after his 7-year-old son accessed his firearm and shot himself in the leg on March 28, 2016. At the time, Crittenden said he believed that the handgun was empty of live rounds. On the way to the hospital, Crittenden also struck a 5 year-old in the parking lot. An ambulance transported the child to Shannon Medical Center.

Because of these details, Crittenden's attorney called this section into question and both the defense and state agreed more research needs to be done.

"The issue is that the statute creates a 'defense' if the child is delivered to a hospital," officials said.

Therefore, Crittenden's case will be reset when that section is either removed or revised.