Jury Sends Dunn to Prison for Bicycle Dragging Death

SAN ANGELO – The man accused of running over 33-year-old Jacob Martinez on Thanksgiving Eve in 2018 and dragging him to his death was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday afternoon.

The jury trial of Clayton Dunn vs. the State of Texas has come to end after four days. San Angelo LIVE!, the only media outlet in the courtroom, reported earlier that the jury closed out day 3, Aug. 17, with the guilty verdict. The court resumed on Aug. 18 at 8:30 a.m. for the punishment phase.

The most impactful moment of the punishment phase came when Martinez's mother, Patricia Hernandez, took the stand. She told the jury what she lost on Thanksgiving 2018. She said that they were all gearing up for Thanksgiving festivities by cooking and baking in the kitchen. 

She had work the day of the accident and by the time she was home Martinez had already left the house. "One of the biggest regrets is that I never got to actually say goodbye." said Mrs. Hernandez. "He took that from me."

Mrs Hernandez went on to say that Jacob was not only a loving son and brother but a father as well. Jacob was the father to three kids, one at the time who was 15 years old. She says that because Martinez is not here anymore a strain has been put on their entire family. 

The jury took this into consideration as well as impact statements from many citizens and officers in San Angelo. Their story was about the constant driving while intoxicated problems they have experienced with Dunn. For more on that see:Dunn Wrongful Death Jury Trial Continues with Witness Testimony

After hearing everything the jury took little time to set a punishment. In the state of Texas the punishment for accident involving death is 2 to 20 years. In this case the jury sentenced Dunn to 15 years in a Texas Prison.