ISSAC MANRIQUEZ
Manriquez, 22, accepted a plea bargain agreement on Sept. 6 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (second-degree felony) in front of 428th Judicial District Judge Joe R. Pool in Hays County.
According to court documents, the Kyle Police Department was advised that a female was assaulted and a gunshot was heard at Ariza at Plum Creek Apartments, located at 4700 Cromwell Drive in Kyle. When police arrived, the victim stated that the assailant, her exboyfriend, was violating a criminal trespassing warning and fled, but had choked her and hit her after discovering messages on her phone with another man. Her ex-boyfriend called the individual from her phone and threatened to kill him while waving a gun around. The victim also testified that he had shot the ground after pointing the gun at her head.
Manriquez was initially arrested for deadly conduct-discharge firearm and assault family violence impending, meaning that “the offense is committed by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the person by applying pressure to the person’s throat or neck or by blocking the person’s nose or mouth.”
The plea bargain agreement dismissed the assault family violenceimpeding and deadly conduct-discharge firearm charges, and sentenced Manriquez to 10 years of deferred adjudication, with a $1,000 fine, a $60 adult community supervision fee, a complete psychological evaluation.
Additionally, he must follow recommendations from the psychological evaluation, maintain employment and have no contact with the complainant.
SAMANTHA BLACKSTONE Twenty-year-old Blackstone, also known as Samantha Sanchez, was indicted on Mar. 1, 2023, for burglary of a habitation and aggravated robbery and pleaded guilty on Sept. 6 in front of Judge Pool.
On Dec. 26, 2022, a San Marcos Police officer responded to a call stating that an acquaintance, Blackstone, broke into the caller's residence at 200 Second St., San Marcos, and robbed him of his property under threat of serious bodily injury.
According to court documents, at approximately 3 a.m., the victim was awoken by Blackstone demanding money and stating that she was not afraid to use the “large hammer” if he did not cooperate. Handing over the $200 that he had in his wallet, he attempted to search for his car keys, but could not find them — preventing Blackstone from stealing the vehicle.
The victim also stated that to his knowledge, she had recently been evicted and was in desperate need of money.
As part of the plea bargain agreement, Blackstone received 10 years deferred adjudication for each count, as well as a $250 fine, $300 restitution and 200 hours of community service.
JACOB FRANKLIN JOHNSON Johnson, 36, was arrested on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child on Feb.
6, 2023. According to court documents, on Dec. 26, 2019, a child revealed to a friend that her step-father had sex with her. The document emphasized that the daughter “did not make an outcry of sexual abuse” at the forensic interview; though, later the child admitted that she lied during the interview due to being scared. Her mother reported this and another interview was conducted.
The child disclosed that her step-father touched her vagina with his penis.
She also stated that when she was showering, he asked her to sit on him.
After she denied, he pulled her toward him as she tried to leave.
Johnson pleaded guilty to both charges on Sept. 7, 2023, and was sentenced in front of Judge Pool on Nov. 2, resulting in 10 years of confinement at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; time served will be concurrent.
As condition of the plea bargain agreement, the state will dismiss the violation of a protection order and give credit for 12 days served.
of Dripping Springs, was convicted of driving while intoxicated, a third-degree felony, on Nov. 2 when she pleaded guilty in front of Judge Pool.
Court documents read that on April 7, 2022, a deputy witnessed Traub turn into a Sleep Inn and almost hit a curb.
After approaching her, he noticed the smell of alcohol, her slurred speech and red eyes.
According to the deputy, Traub admitted to having a drink earlier that night, but refused to complete the field sobriety test; though, a breathalyzer test revealed that she had an alcohol level of 0.213 and 0.206.
Traub was previously convicted of a DWI on Nov. 5, 2008, and Sept.
19, 2013. She received 10 years probation, 60 days of jail as condition of community supervision, a $3,000 fine, a monthly $60 adult community supervision fee, a psychological, drug and alcohol abuse evaluation with counseling and/ or treatment as recommended — up to and including inpatient — and all conditions consistent with DWI offenses.
LAPEAR WILLRICH
Willrich was arrested for capital murder on June 19, 2019 for the slaying of 23-year-old DeMarcus Trey Allen and sentenced to life in prison by 453rd District Judge Sherri Tibbe in Hays County this past week.
According to a news release, Willrich broke into Allen’s home at the Village on Telluride on June 5, 2019 and shot and killed him while he was asleep. Police were able to connect Willrich and his co-defendant, Jon Jervis, 28, to the crime through their investigation, which included a home video surveillance system that captured the crime. Jervis was sentenced to life without parole in 2022.
The case was prosecuted by assistant district attorneys Katie Arnold and Abigail Whitaker.
