Travis County District Attorney’s Office Secures Convictions for Acts of Violence During Cases Tried in July 2024
Travis County, TX — In July 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.
The State of Texas v. Blake Jones
On Friday, June 28, 2024, a Travis County jury convicted Blake Jones, 30, of first-degree injury to a child causing serious bodily injury and third-degree injury to a child causing bodily injury.
For Mr. Jones’s trial, jury selection began on Monday, June 24, 2024, with testimony starting the following day.
The defendant failed to appear in court before closing arguments commenced on Friday, June 28, 2024, prompting the judge to immediately issue a bond forfeiture and arrest warrant. The trial continued, and on that same day, the jury found Mr. Jones guilty on both counts of injury to a child. The jury sentenced him to 30 years on the first count and 10 years on the second count, to be served concurrently at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Mr. Jones in the city of Temple. On Monday, July 22, 2024, Mr. Jones was officially sentenced by the judge.
On March 20, 2021, the Austin Police Department arrested Mr. Jones and charged him with injury to a child by omission for the offense that took place on March 7, 2021. On December 21, 2023, Mr. Jones was subsequently reindicted on first- and third-degree counts of injury to a child in advance of his trial.
The case against Mr. Jones was tried by Assistant District Attorney Kyle Smith and Director of the Child Abuse Unit Efrain De La Fuente, with the support of Investigators Daniel Evans and John Holliday, Victim Counselors Larissa Youngblood and Stacy Miles-Thorpe, Paralegals Stephanie Montes and Amanda Whitaker, and Legal Secretary Anthony Giles. Mr. Jones’s case was investigated by Austin Police Department Detective Daniel Jackson.
“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,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope that this outcome helps the victim’s family with their healing process.”
The State of Texas v. Nora Lee Lopez
On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, a Travis County jury convicted Nora Lee Lopez, 33, of Murder.
For Ms. Lopez’s trial, jury selection began on Monday, June 24, 2024, and testimony started on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, the jury deliberated and found Ms. Lopez guilty of Murder. On Thursday, July 11, 2024, the jury assessed her punishment at 10 years to be served at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On November 1, 2021, Ms.Lopez was charged with the murder of James Everet Traylor, 52. She surrendered herself into custody on November 5, 2021. On April 27, 2022, Ms. Lopez was indicted with the offense of Murder.
Trial Court Senior Director Rickey Jones, Trial Court Director Guillermo Gonzalez, and Assistant District Attorney Jean Sullivan tried the case against Ms. Lopez with the support of Investigator Fred Spencer, Appellate Team Lead Lisa Stewart, Appellate Assistant District Attorney Danielle Tierney, Victim Counselor Raquel Pompey, and Paralegals Cecilee Walker and Allison Matous. Austin Police Department Detective Christopher Vanlandingham investigated Ms. Lopez’s case.
“Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partner who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victim and their family,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope this verdict continues to help the victim’s family heal.”
The State of Texas v. Denis Ramirez-Barahona
On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, a Travis County jury convicted Denis Ramirez-Barahona, 39, of Sexual Assault and Prohibited Sexual Conduct.
For Mr. Ramirez-Barahona’s trial, jury selection started on Monday, July 15, 2024, and testimony began the following day. On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, the jury deliberated and found Mr. Ramirez-Barahona guilty of Sexual Assault and Prohibited Sexual Conduct and not guilty of Aggravated Sexual Assault. On Thursday, July 18, 2024, the jury assessed his punishment at 20 years for his Sexual Assault case and 10 years for his Prohibited Sexual Conduct case to be served concurrently at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On April 26, 2023, the Austin Police Department arrested Mr. Ramirez-Barahona and charged him with Aggravated Sexual Assault. On June 13, 2023, Mr. Ramirez-Barahona was indicted with the offenses of Aggravated Sexual Assault and Prohibited Sexual Contact.
Assistant District Attorneys Jamie Liu and Kathryn Scales tried the case against Mr. Ramirez-Barahona, with the support of Investigator Adam Johnson, Victim Counselor Kyrsten Engstrom, Paralegal Amanda Beaver, and Legal Secretary Valerie Briones. Austin Police Department Detectives Nicholas Draper, Anna Jackson, and Roberto Arambula investigated his 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 verdict continues to help the victim with their healing process.”
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