20-Year-Old San Angelo Man Pleads Guilty to Endangering His Child, Gets Probation

Monday at the Tom Green County Court, a San Angelo man pleaded guilty to endangering his son after a domestic dispute turned into a crash on Loop 306 back in May 2016.

When his name was called, Colton Daniel Beard, 20, made his way to the front of Judge Ben Woodward’s court in his orange jumpsuit and shackles around his hands and feet. He sat down next to his attorney, John E. Sutton.

Judge Woodward called out Beard’s case number and explained that Beard faces an Abandon Endanger Child Criminal Negligence charge, which is a state jail felony with confinement between 180 days to two years and a fine up to $10,000.

The judge then read Beard his rights, and there was a question whether Beard had officially been indicted. According to the court indictment list, a grand jury indicted Beard on July 6, 2016 (see here).

When asked how he pleaded, Beard said, “Guilty.”

Judge Woodward asked the State for its recommendation. The State recommended three years of Deferred Adjudication and a $750 fine.

After reiterating this sentence, Judge Woodward asked, “Do you still want to plead guilty?”

“Yes, sir,” Beard responded.

“Okay, I will accept your plea of guilty,” said Woodward.

After the sentence was determined, Sutton brought to the attention of Judge Woodward that Beard will be in court Tuesday for a misdemeanor family assault charge. He faces probation for that charge as well.

Beard is also currently on probation for theft.

“He has about a year left on that theft,” said Sutton.

With that being said, Sutton requested for Judge Woodward to “review the entire package.”

Despite that information, Judge Woodward maintained the current recommendation and explained to Beard that he will pay a $60 community supervision fee, court costs, and spend 120 hours doing community service.

Judge Woodward then asked about Beard’s son, and if a CPS case was pending.

“Yes, sir,” Beard responded.

Currently, there are restrictions in place, and Judge Woodward stated Beard will have no contact with his son unless allowed by CPS.

Judge Woodward also told Beard he must take the Texas Assessment Survey in the next 10 days, which “may change the terms of probation.”

“Looks like you have a lot of probations going on,” said Woodward. “Make sure you follow all the rules.”

For more on Beard’s case, review LIVE!’s articles here and here.

Also in court today was Chelsea Jo Strube, 33, and Joseph Edward Velez, 40. Strube was previously arrested and indicted for an arson case that took place September 2015. Velez was arrested and indicted for stalking, which occurred in July 2015.

To review more on Strube and Velez’s case, click here, here, and here.

Strube, whose jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 19, 2016, appeared today for a motion hearing. However, her hearing did not take place in the courtroom. She was called back for an office conference with District Attorney Allison Palmer and her attorney, Gonzalo Rios.

Previously, on July 15, Rios submitted a Motion to Suppress Evidence Obtained Pursuant to an Illegal Search and Seizure.

According to the document, Strube seeks to have all evidence contained suppressed, included but not limited to her cell phone, Apple iPad, and her computer seized on or about Sept. 11, 2015. San Angelo Police seized these items from Strube’s vehicle at the intersection of Abe Street and Concho Streets.

The Motion also requests any photographs, law enforcement testimony, scientific tests and procedures and oral and written testimony by Strube be suppressed due to an “illegal search.” The Defense states that these items were seized without a valid search warrant and without probable cause or suspicion of criminal activity.

Hence, Rios sought an independent exam of the electronic equipment before the suppression hearing. Palmer agreed to the exam and will coordinate the process, said court records. Additionally, a witness was not available for Monday’s motion hearing, so the hearing was vacated, and the attorneys will present orders for examining and inspecting the electronic devices by a "Defense expert."

Strube is scheduled for another Criminal Pre-Trial hearing on Aug. 30,2016.

In the final case of the day, Velez explained to Judge Woodward that he’s been sitting in the Tom Green County Jail for eight months because of bad luck with finding a defense attorney.

His first attorney, Brad Haralson, filed a Motion to Withdraw because of a “conflict.” Today, his second assigned attorney, Joe Hernandez, explained he too was withdrawing from the stalking case because of a conflict.

When Judge Woodward asked Velez if he agreed with the withdrawal, Velez, in frustration, said that’s fine if Hernandez felt he could not represent him properly. However, he’s been sitting in jail, and even though he’s solicited the services of defense attorneys personally, no one has responded to his requests.

“I just want to get this taken care of,” said Velez.

Judge Woodward told Velez he would find an out-of-town attorney for him as soon as possible. He mentioned the lawyer would more than likely be from Abilene.

By the end of the day, court records showed Brian Raymond assigned to Velez’s case. Velez is scheduled for a jury trial on Oct. 17, 2016.