SAN ANGELO, TX – On Tuesday, the Tom Green County Courthouse was filled with over 150 criminal pre-trials. Some of the more high-profile cases included, Marc Anthony Asevedo, 25, charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Marcus McVae, 32, charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, and Moises Andrade, 19, charged with three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of Indecency with a Child.
On Jan 1, 2016, Andrade, “intentionally and knowingly" sexually assaulted a child.
On Oct. 18, 2016, Andrade voluntarily walked into the San Angelo Police Department and told the front desk officer he committed the offenses. During an interview with the investigator, Andrade confessed to being at the residence where the victim lived between 2015 and 2016, according to the complaint.
Tuesday morning, 119th Judicial District Judge Ben Woodward called on Andrade to stand up during his his pre-trial. “You understand you are being charged with four counts of sexual contact with a child?” Woodward asked Andrade from across the courtroom.
Andrade answer was very faint, prompting Judge Woodward to ask for him to approach the bench.
“It’s my understanding you want give up your right to a jury trial?” Woodward asked Andrade. After being told to speak-up for a second time, Andrade gave verbal consent that he wanted to give-up his right to a jury trial.
Andrade’s jury trial, scheduled for July 24, has been canceled and is now moving forward with a plea hearing. The date of the hearing has yet to be determined by the court.
Asevedo, along with co-defendants Robert Blanco, 24, and Anthony A. Baca, 28, are accused of attacking victim Paul Garcia on July 14, 2015 outside Grinner’s Daiquiri Bar downtown.
Before the assault, Garcia was in the 200 block of S. Chadbourne attempting to smoke a cigarette. Both Asevedo and Blanco approached Garcia from behind. One male subject held a gun on Garcia’s neck and Asevedo jammed a handgun into Garcia’s stomach. The male subjects proceeded to force-march Garcia towards a waiting car. Before nearing the car, Garcia was able to wiggle free and took off running east on Twohig Ave.
In their pursuit of Garcia, police say Asevedo and Blanco fired at least 16 rounds towards the fleeing victim, who was struck just once in the arm.
Asevedo appeared before Judge Woodward to discuss his charges being merged together for the upcoming trial. Asevedo currently has two charges facing him, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Tampering/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair.
His attorney, Brian Raymond, and Assistant District Attorney Jason Ferguson, discussed this motion before Judge Woodward.
Asevedo is scheduled for another pre-trial on Aug. 1, as he is determined not ready for a jury trial, according to court documents.
McVae was issued a mistrial in April of this year after a hung jury could not reach a verdict to convict him of Aggravated Robbery of the David Roger Construction yard in March of 2016.
McVae is scheduled for another pre-trial on July 14. His court-appointed attorney, Shawntell McKillop, said they were working things out and will be ready to move forward with his new trial.
340th Judicial District Judge Jay Weatherby will preside over the upcoming pre-trial on July 14. The jury selection will occur on July 24 and McVae's jury trial is scheduled to begin on July 25.
One notable person who failed appear in court Tuesday was Thomas Edgar Cadena Vasquez, 30, who was charged with Arson on May 8, 2016 after he attempted to use a cigarette lighter to set the mattress and sheets on fire in a Shannon Hospital room. He was placed in the room by Shannon staff for treatment, according to court documents.
Vasquez complaint reads, “Due to [his] reckless actions, the defendant placed multiple individuals and the Shannon Hospital in danger.”
The court Clerk will issue a capias for Vasquez's arrest, and increase his bond from $7, 500 to $30,000, according to court documents. and
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