Travis County District Attorney’s Office Provides Summary of Cases Prosecuted the Week of May 8, 2023, to May 12, 2023

Travis County, TX — On Monday, May 8, 2023, Kelly Lawrence Schernik, 40, pled guilty to Manslaughter before his case was given a retrial setting. Mr. Shernick’s murder case was originally presented to a Travis County jury on February 13, 2023. On February 17, 2023, the Judge declared a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

On March 22, 2020, the Cedar Park Police Department arrested Mr. Schernik and charged him with the offense of Aggravated Assault against Jason Sean Robinson, 39. Mr. Schernik’s Aggravated Assault charge was upgraded to Murder upon Mr. Robinson’s death three days later.

In a separate case, on Thursday, May 11, 2023, Steve Guerrero, 25, pled guilty to Aggravated Sexual Assault, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Robbery, and Aggravated Assault.

On November 24, 2020, the Austin Police Department arrested Mr. Guerrero and charged him with Aggravated Sexual Assault, Aggravated Kidnapping, and Aggravated Assault, which occurred on November 9, 2020.

Mr. Guerrero was initially indicted on February 1, 2021, with two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault, Aggravated Kidnapping, and Aggravated Assault. On April 4, 2023, Mr. Guerrero was subsequently reindicted in preparation for the trial with one count of Aggravated Sexual Assault, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, and the additional offense of Aggravated Robbery.

In another case, on Thursday, May 11, 2023, a Travis County jury convicted Adam Presley Pace, 47, of Harassment, a class B misdemeanor.

For Mr. Pace’s trial, jury selection started on May 8, 2023, and testimony began on May 9, 2023. On Thursday, May 11, 2023, the jury deliberated and found Mr. Pace guilty of Harassment.

On May 30, 2020, the Pflugerville Police Department arrested Mr. Pace and charged him with the offense of Stalking. On December 28, 2020, Mr. Pace was indicted for the offense of Stalking.

“Our office takes acts of violence seriously and is committed to holding people who commit violent crimes accountable,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope these outcomes bring closure and peace to the victims and their families.”

On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, a Travis County jury acquitted Jose Ruiz-Jimenez, 35, of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. For Mr. Ruiz-Jimenez’s trial, jury selection started on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, and testimony began on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, the jury deliberated and found Mr. Ruiz-Jimenez not guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child.

On April 3, 2021, the Austin Police Department arrested Mr. Ruiz-Jimenez and charged him with Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child for offenses allegedly occurring between March 2016 and July 2019. On April 17, 2023, Mr. Ruiz-Jimenez was indicted for the offense of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child.

“We are grateful for our community members who served in the juries for this case,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We respect the juror’s decision and thank them for their service.”

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