The Justice Journal: Vol. 32
June 30, 2023
A look at cases recently prosecuted by the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.
State vs. Auzhanae Reese Drayden
Murder
Lead: Herschel Woods
2nd Chair: Loren Collins
DA Investigator: Chris Frosch
DA Victim Advocates: Tiffany Lopez & Doris Aguilar
Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department
The defendant was a sex worker and a confirmed member of the Bloods street gang in California. The victim was a customer of the defendant who met her online. The two met at the victim’s apartment in the city of Dallas. They spent several hours in the victim’s apartment where there were also firearms, illicit drugs, and large amounts of cash inside. The defendant then went to her car, which was parked in an adjoining parking garage, and proceeded to call the victim under a false story that her vehicle would not start. The victim came down to the garage, where he determined there was nothing wrong with the defendant’s car. The defendant shot the victim twice, once in the chest and once in the back, and then took money from his pockets as he was dying on the ground. The defendant then fled the scene in her vehicle.
Dallas Police responded and were able to find security video that showed the offense and the defendant’s license plate number. It was determined that the defendant’s vehicle was a rental car, and it was tracked to New Mexico. New Mexico State Troopers detained the vehicle on I-10. The defendant was driving. The vehicle contained the weapon used in the murder as well as the victim’s money.
At trial, the defendant claimed the victim sexually assaulted her. However, the video of the offense where the defendant robbed the victim, as well as the defendant’s own jail calls and letters indicated the assault allegation was a fabrication.
GUILTY and sentenced to 27 years in prison
State vs. Tahj Pinson
Burglary Habitation Intend Other Felony
Lead: Lyndi Brooks
2nd Chair: Julie Johnson
DA Investigator: Catherine Justice
DA Victim Advocate: Andi Powell
Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department
GUILTY and sentenced to 35 years in prison
State vs. Darwin Taylor
Arson Intend to Damage Habitat
Lead: Steve Fawcett
2nd Chair: Kishwer Lakhani
DA Investigators: Hoyt Hoffman & Alex Pinales
Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department
On Oct. 4, 2021, at 11:40 PM, Ola Daniels — an 80-year-old, wheelchair-bound, retired elementary school teacher — was watching TV when she noticed a fire outside her front patio window. The fire then came into the house and caught onto the curtains. The whole room was quickly engulfed in flames. Fortunately, her adult son heard her pleas for help and was able to drag her outside, though she suffered serious burns to her neck and arm. A neighbor placed the defendant on that same front patio holding “some kind of can” that was alight prior to the fire. Witnesses then observed the defendant sitting across the street watching the fire while everyone else was trying to put it out and escape. A firefighter suffered serious burns after catching on fire while in the house due to some kind of accelerant splashing up on him. Arson investigators determined the fire started on the inside of the window, and not the patio, meaning someone intentionally introduced the flames to the curtains. The defendant was arrested that night, while in possession of a lighter, and a can of tools that witnesses mistook for a gas can. The defendant provided a statement to Dallas Fire & Rescue Arson investigators, which included information that only the arsonist could have known.
GUILTY and sentenced to 30 years in prison with a deadly weapon finding
State vs. Adrian Torres Cavazos
Continuous Violence Against the Family
Lead: Megan Reed
2nd Chair: Mackensie Pfleger
DA Investigator: Crystal Gregan
DA Victim Advocate: Patricia Salas
Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department
Special thank you to Investigator Miguel Medrano and Victim Advocate Patricia Salas who helped with Spanish language translation.
The defendant, who was 40 years old, met the 20-year-old victim (who spoke only Spanish) at work. Within a few months, the victim had moved in with the defendant. On the victim’s 21st birthday, the defendant assaulted her by throwing her on the stairs, kicking her in the ribs, punching her in the face, and slamming her head into a towel bar. The victim did not report it until 4 months later, after the defendant killed her kitten, beat her dog, and tried to force her into his car against her will at the dog park. A 13-year-old girl called 911.
The defendant was arrested for a misdemeanor assault family violence at that time, but two months later, he assaulted the victim again, by pulling her into the apartment by her hair, punching her multiple times, and slamming her head into the towel bar. At that time, he was charged with Continuous Violence Against the Family.
GUILTY and sentenced to 10 years’ probation
Connect:
-
You must be on the network to see these links.
© 2024. Dallas County. All rights reserved.
