Travis County DA’s Office Secures Convictions for Acts of Violence During Cases Tried in September 2024
Travis County, TX —In September 2024, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office tried cases of alleged acts of violence before Travis County juries and secured convictions for the victims and their families.
The State of Texas v. Jorge Flores-Duran
On Monday, September 9, 2024, Jorge Flores-Duran pleaded guilty to murder before jury selection was set to start for his trial, and he was sentenced to serve 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On August 10, 2023, Mr. Flores-Duran, 62, was arrested by the Austin Police Department and charged with the murder of Isaias Perez Martinez, 54, which took place on August 8, 2023. On November 6, 2023, Mr. Flores-Duran was indicted for the offense of Murder.
Assistant District Attorneys Erik Nielsen, Eran Sharon, and Amrit Sharma prepared the case against Mr. Flores-Duran with the support of Investigator Mike Henderson, Victim Counselor Larissa Youngblood, Paralegal Raquel Sanchez, and Legal Secretary Chardell Clark. Retired Austin Police Department Detective Katy Conner investigated Mr. Flores-Duran’s case.
“Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victim’s family,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope this verdict continues to help the victim’s family with their healing process.”
The State of Texas v. Montavian Carlysle
On Thursday, September 19, 2024, a Travis County jury convicted Montavian Carlysle, 23, of Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury with a Deadly Weapon finding.
For Mr. Carlysle’s trial, jury selection started on Monday, September 16, 2024, and testimony began the following day. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, the jury deliberated and found Mr. Carlysle guilty of Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury with a Deadly Weapon finding. On the same day, the jury assessed his punishment at four years to be served at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On July 8, 2022, Mr. Carlysle was arrested by the Austin Police Department and charged with Aggravated Assault for the offense that took place on July 7, 2024. On August 15, 2022, Mr. Carlysle was indicted for the offense of Aggravated Assault.
Assistant District Attorneys Jason Rew-Hunter and Sam Henry tried the case against Mr.Carlysle with the support of Investigator Mike Henderson, Victim Counselor Larissa Youngblood, Paralegal Raquel Sanchez, and Legal Secretary Chardell Clark. Austin Police Department Detective James Eichenholz was the lead investigator on Mr. Carlysle’s case.
“Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victim,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope this outcome continues to help the victim with their healing process.”
The State of Texas v. Jason Liss
On Thursday, September 19, 2024, a Travis County jury convicted Jason Liss of Assault Family Violence with a Prior Conviction.
For Mr. Liss’s trial, jury selection started on Monday, September 16, 2024, and testimony began the following day. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, the jury deliberated and found Mr. Liss guilty of Assault Family Violence with a Prior Conviction. On the same day, the state and defense agreed that Mr. Liss would serve 20 years at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice with a waiver of appeal.
On December 4, 2023, Mr. Liss was arrested by the Jonestown Police Department and charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury Family Violence for the offense that took place on November 23, 2023. On January 25, 2024, Mr. Liss was indicted for the offense of Assault Family Violence with a Prior Conviction.
Assistant District Attorneys Misa Mujevic Dzodic, Neha Naik, and Cindy Izquierdo tried the case against Mr.Liss with the support of Investigator Leon Williams, Victim Counselor Cassy French, and Paralegal Angela Zepeda. Jonestown Police Department Sgt. Glenn Powers, Officer Benjamin Ahrens, and Officer Darrell Wineinger investigated Mr. Liss’s case.
“Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victim,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope that this outcome continues to aid the victim in their healing process.”
The State of Texas v. David Polonia-Trinidad
On Monday, September 23, 2024, David Polonia-Trinidad, 28, pleaded guilty to Injury to a Child, Serious Bodily Injury.
For Mr. Trinidad’s trial, jury selection started on Monday, September 16, 2024, and testimony began the following day. On Friday, September 20, 2024, the jury deliberated but could not reach a unanimous decision, and the judge declared a mistrial and decided that the case would be retried the following week. On Monday, September 23, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty to Injury to a Child, Serious Bodily Injury before the retrial started. On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, he was sentenced to serve five years at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On May 2, 2022, Mr. Trinidad was arrested by the Round Rock Police Department and charged with Injury to a Child, Serious Bodily Injury, for the offense that took place on April 27, 2022. On July 27, 2022, Mr. Trinidad was indicted for the offense of Injury to a Child, Serious Bodily Injury.
Assistant District Attorneys John Castro and Jamie Liu tried the case against Mr. Trinidad with the support of Investigator John Holiday, Victim Counselor Cynthia Mendez, Paralegal Amanda Whiteaker, and Legal Secretary Jennifer Villanueva. Round Rock Police Department Detective Sean Randolph investigated Mr. Polonia-Trinidad’s case.
“Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the child victim and their family,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope this outcome helps the victim and their family with their healing process.”
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