Woman Takes Plea Deal for Aggravated Kidnapping from Last July

SAN ANGELO, TX — On Wednesday, 19 people were arrested in Tom Green County. Included in those arrests was Taryn Makia Espinosa, 19, who was charged with aggravated kidnapping and  attempted aggravated robbery from July 2016. 

Officials with the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office (TGCSO) said that deputies were dispatched to the 9700 block of Burma Road for a report of a terroristic threat on July 20. Before officers arrived, the San Angelo Police Department contacted deputies and told them that the victim, a juvenile, had called 9-1-1 after escaping from the suspects.

"The victim stated he had been kidnapped from a residence off of Burma Road and driven to San Angelo by the suspects," said TGCSO officials.

Following the arrest of Espinosa and co-defendant Sherrod Mailk Wilder, the Tom Green County Investigation Division began an investigation into the kidnapping. Following the investigation, it was determined that the suspects had taken the victim by gun point. They then drove the juvenile to San Angelo in an attempt to have him withdraw money from an ATM machine. 

"San Angelo Police Department Officers located the suspects at Rio Concho and Bell Street where they were detained," TGCSO stated from the original arrest. "Taryn Espinosa was arrested on an outstanding warrant from McCulloch County and for Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance greater than 4 grams and less than 200 grams, which she had in her possession. A pistol was also recovered from Espinosa’s purse that matched the description of the pistol used in the Aggravated Kidnapping," TGCSO concluded from their investigation. 

Both Wilder and Espinosa faced first degree felonies punishable by five to ninety-ninety years, and/or a fine up to $10,000.

Espinosa was confined to the Tom Green County jail from July 20, 2016 until March 17, 2017, when she posted her $25,000 bond. 

On Wednesday morning, Espinosa appeared before the 391st Judicial District Judge Brad Goodwin to take a plea deal for the aggravated kidnapping charge and attempted aggravated robbery charge. The Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance charge was also part of the sentencing. 

The States plea deal recommended that Espinosa be sentenced to six years confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, according to court documents.

Judge Goodwin issued the recommended punishment and placed Espinosa in the custody of the TGCSO detention officers for processing and transportation. 

Of the 19 arrests from Wednesday, eight were for new complaints, and 11 were for warrant arrests.

Here is a list of the other arrests:

• Theft of Property: 2
• Possession of Marijuana: 2
• Assault Causing Bodily Injury to Family Member: 1
• Evading Arrest: 1
• Possession of Controlled Substance: 1 
• Abusive Language: 1
• Driving while intoxicated: 3
• Driving while license invalid: 1

Booking_Report June 22