San Angelo Man Demands Jury Trial; Sentenced to 40 Years for Evading Arrest

SAN ANGELO, TX – A San Angelo man who pushed for a jury trial was sentenced to 40 years in prison for evading arrest.

According to court documents, on Jan. 5, a Tom Green County Jury found Joseph Duran, 37, guilty of evading arrest with a vehicle. He was sentenced to 40 years in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system.

Duran was originally arrested on Apr. 10 by San Angelo Police Department for the evading arrest charge, a resisting arrest, and a parole violation. He was indicted for the evading charge in May. In the indictment the district attorney's office revealed that Duran had two previous conviction of possession of methamphetamine. This enhanced the charge.

Months and months of court hearings continued with Duran not excepting any plea deal. Instead Duran continued to press for a jury trial. So a jury trial was set to begin on Jan. 3.

Days before the trial the court met one last time to ensure that both parties were ready for trial. During the meeting Duran told the court he wanted a different attorney appointed to him. He claimed that him and court appointed attorney, Rae Leifeste, had a disagreement. 

"Defendant refused to speak with Mr. Leifeste when he went to visit him in the jail; The Defendant told the Court that he would not talk to Mr. Leifeste if he came to visit with him for trial preparation; He said he is refusing to help Mr. Leifeste with the preparation of his defense," stated one court document.

This was Duran's second court appointed attorney so the judge denied the request.

The trial only lasted two days. The prosecution presented three witnesses while the defense also called one. The jury met for less than two hours before handing down the 40 year punishment.

Duran will now spend the next 40 years in prison. He is eligible for an appeal.