Gerald Jermaine Clack, 36, was found guilty of two felony charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

On April 1, he plead guilty to the October 25, 2009 robbery of a local woman who worked at a local insurance agency.

The robbery occurred during the day and involved two suspects.

In documents submitted to the court, it was shown that the victim was approached while she was working.

They waited until she was off the phone and then one jumped over the counter and pushed her to the ground.

The other jumped over the counter and raided the cash box. While struggling with one suspect, the victim was able to wrestle free, partially tearing her shirt off in the process.

A local barbershop owner, Joe Villarreal, provided her with a cover and helped the police to identify the vehicle and the direction it was travelling.

The suspects left in a retired black and white police vehicle.

Approximately five Kingsville police cruisers immediately began the search for the suspects.

“Due to the quick response by the Kingsville Police, the suspects were arrested shortly after the incident,” District Attorney John Hubert said, praising the victim and Villarreal, “because she refused to let the two suspects hurt her, she was able to get away.”

Hubert said that with the compassionate response of Villarreal and his willingness to become involved and do the right thing, the Kingsville Police were able to arrest the suspects quickly, before they could make their escape.

“This is community involvement at its best. When people become involved, criminals lose,” Hubert said.

Clack expressed regret for the pain he caused the victim, the DA said.

As a condition of the plea, the Clack also plead “no contest” to the Oct. 16, 2009 burglary of a local resident’s apartment and received 12 years in prison, to be served concurrently.

In other court news, Marquise T. King, 19, of Kingsville, was convicted April 1 for the robbery of a convenience store clerk. In documents submitted to the court by the district attorney’s office, it was shown that King and an accomplice walked into a convenience store in Kingsville.

There, one came around the counter and assaulted the clerk while the other watched the door.

Since there was very little money in the cash register, the suspects tried to get the clerk to open the safe, however the clerk did not know the combination, Hubert said.

The suspects then fled the scene. Due to the quick response time by the Kingsville Police Department, the suspects were trying to flee the area when they were caught after getting a ride from an unrelated innocent third party.

The suspects were caught by the police and their descriptions matched those on a security tape. Also, the third party and the clerk at the store were able to identify the suspects.

King expressed no regret or remorse for his actions and received 10 years in prison for the robbery, Hubert said.

Howard Sanchez, 47, of Kingsville, was convicted on April 1 of retaliation for an incident that happen Nov. 20, 2009.

In that incident, Sanchez, a convicted felon, threatened to assault police officer when he saw the police officer on the street, Hubert said.

The threat followed Sanchez’ arrest as a suspect when the police were dispatched to a criminal trespass call.

Sanchez also kicked out the rear passenger side window of the police cruiser.

Sanchez received 30 months in prison, Hubert said.

In another case handled by Hubert’s office, Oscar Castellanos, 29, of Kingsville, pleaded true to allegations that he violated his probation by continued drug use.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Hubert said.

He was placed on probation on April 11, 2008 for tampering with evidence. In that occasion he was responsible for the destruction of evidence, namely cocaine, when Task Force officers raided his home pursuant to a search warrant signed, Hubert said.

Castellanos plead guilty to the tampering charge and was placed on probation.

To address drug addiction problems, he was placed in a Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility to learn to how beat his addiction, Hubert said.

However, when placed back on probation, he continued to use illegal drugs, the DA said.

“I can only believe that Judge Banales had given Mr. Castellanos a chance to change his life; when he continued to violate the law, the judge saw fit to revoke his probation rather than continue to spend taxpayer money on intensive drug treatment which the defendant did not want or use,” Hubert said.

In a Kenedy County case, Isreal Villarreal Jr., 35, of Rio Grande City, was convicted of possession of marijuana on March 31 and sentenced to four years in prison.

The initial arrest resulted from a traffic stop for speeding, Hubert noted.

Following quick questions by a state trooper, probable cause was established and a search of the vehicle resulted in 28.6 pounds of marihuana being discovered hidden in the passenger air bag.

Although there was another passenger in the car, documents submitted to the court indicated that it was the defendant’s girlfriend but that she had no knowledge of the marihuana, Hubert said.

In the meantime, the probation for Jonathan Andrew Salinas, 24, a Riviera native, was revoked by District Judge Manuel Banales when Salinas failed to abide by conditions of his probation, Hubert said.

Salinas was assessed the full 2 year maximum allowed by law for state jail felonies.

Time on state jail felonies is served day for day.

Salinas’ original case arose from a theft he committed while working in a house as a subcontractor.