By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Kelvin James Brown won’t go on trial for murder in the 2019 death of Manuel Sanchez Jr.
Brown has instead pleaded guilty to the lesser-included offense of manslaughter, two counts of felony tampering with evidence and violation of probation on a previous, unrelated, criminal charge.
Brown’s trial was set to begin Wednesday, July 21, with testimony from the medical examiner that performed the autopsy on Sanchez’s body.
Instead, when Wednesday’s court session opened, 83rd Judicial District Judge Robert E. Cadena indicated a plea agreement had been reached between Brown, his attorney Alberto Ramon and District Attorney Suzanne West.
Brown then pleaded guilty to manslaughter – “causing the death of Manuel Sanchez Jr.” – as well as to two counts of tampering with evidence.
“And are you pleading guilty freely and voluntarily?” Cadena asked Brown.
“Yes, sir,” Brown replied.
Brown next also pleaded guilty to violating the terms of his supervised release in a previous criminal case.
After Brown had entered his guilty pleas, Cadena set sentencing for Monday and recalled the jury.
He explained to the jurors, “The case has been resolved, and I want to express my appreciation for all you have done. We will no longer need your assistance.”
Brown, his attorney and West returned to court on Monday morning.
Brown was brought into the courtroom wearing an orange inmate’s uniform. He was also handcuffed and shackled at the waist and ankles.
Members of Brown’s family, including his mother Erika Rodriguez and his grandmother Rosalinda Rodriguez, filled one row of the courtroom gallery.
When Cadena called the courtroom to order, he asked West for her recommendation in the probation violation case, and West replied, “Seven years.”
West also recommended a term of seven years in prison for the manslaughter and tampering pleas and told the court the two seven-year terms could run concurrently.
Cadena then asked Brown if he wanted to address the court.
Neither Brown nor his attorney spoke to the court regarding the manslaughter and tampering cases, but Brown said he wanted to make a statement regarding the probation violation case.
“I want to apologize to you and to the court. I want to apologize for violating the terms of my probation. If I hadn’t, maybe I wouldn’t be here right now,” Brown said.
Cadena thanked him, accepted the sentencing recommendation and ordered Brown receive credit for the days he has been behind bars awaiting the disposition of the cases. The judge then remanded Brown into the custody of the sheriff’s office, whose deputies led him out of the courtroom.
Following the sentencing, neither Ramon nor members of Brown’s family had any comment on the case.
West offered the following comment: “While no prison sentence can compensate for the taking of a life, this plea brings us one step closer to justice for the co-defendants in this tragic case. The district attorney’s office appreciates the efforts of our law enforcement partners at the police department, the sheriff’s office and our local DPS in putting this case together. Their professional efforts and tenacity helped achieve these results.”
—
Contact the author at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
