State vs. Nestor Hernandez
Capital Murder
Lead: George Lewis
2nd Chair: John Creuzot
Shawnkeedra Houston-Martin
Jesse Allen
DA Investigator: Anthony Winn
Investigating Agency: Methodist Hospital Police & Dallas Police Department
Nestor Hernandez was convicted of capital murder for the shooting deaths of social worker Jacqueline Pokuaa and nurse Katie Annette Flowers on October 22, 2022, at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Hernandez received an automatic sentence of Life in Prison without the possibility of parole.
We are grateful to the jury for following the law and we thank them for their service during this difficult trial. Thank you also to Judge Chika Anyiam, the Methodist Hospital Police and Staff, the Dallas Police Department, and all of Annette and Jacqueline’s loved ones who entrusted us with this carriage of justice.
GUILTY and sentenced to LIFE in prison without the possibility of parole.
State vs. James Moore
Capital Murder
Lead: Nadin-Sarah Salkic
2nd Chair: Thomas G. Adams, Jr.
DA Investigator: Raul Obregon & Julie Jacob
Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department – Det. Frank Serra
On 9/25/2019, five defendants conspired to rob a restaurant (Café Delicious) in the middle of broad daylight. They arrived in a suspect vehicle, parked in front of the restaurant, and sent a stakeout, Defendant James Moore, who went inside under the pretense of buying a can of soda. Upon his return, the remaining four defendants concealed their faces with masks/hoodies and entered the restaurant carrying rifles and handguns. Upon entering the restaurant, they divided and proceeded to rob individuals inside. One of them was the owner and deceased Mr. Brian Harp who was shot by co-defendant (Carrendius Walker who got a life sentence without the possibility of parole last year) as he was walking with his hands in the air after which he was left to die in his own pool of blood. After the shooting, all defendants fled. This defendant, James Moore, waited for all the defendants to come out of the restaurant after which he drove away from the scene at a high rate of speed. The shooter and the co-defendant Walker dropped his phone at the scene which ultimately led to his arrest and charging.
Defendant Moore fled the State of Texas to his home State of Louisiana once the investigation was underway and once he was identified as one of the suspects. He was arrested in Louisiana by Troopers Ostarly and Huggins who also came to testify in this trial.
What helped bring justice to the Harp family was great surveillance video, one of the co-defendants coming forward to testify, and good Detective work.
Special thanks to ADAs Eduardo Carranza, Jonathan Grant, Paul Pinon, Paige Williams and Joshua Vanderslice and to Irene Duong for their assistance throughout trial.
GUILTY and sentenced to LIFE in prison without the possibility of parole.
State vs. Adrian Hernandez
2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child
Lead: Kristin Treager
2nd Chair: Kathryn Suggs
DA Investigator: Edwin Gibson & Laura Brakefield
DA Victim Advocates: Flor De La Fuente & Pam Betts
Investigating Agency: Grand Prairie Police Department
The Defendant was found guilty of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. The maximum punishment on a 2nd Degree is 20 years in prison, and the jury gave him 20 years in prison.
GUILTY and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
State vs. Henry Arnold
Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon – Family Violence
Lead: Samantha Jarvis
2nd Chair: Caitlin Paver
DA Investigator: Eugene Reyes
DA Victim Advocate: Patricia Salas
Investigating Agency: Grand Prairie Police Department
The defendant and victim had been involved in a romantic relationship. The defendant admitted in his interview that he “snapped” at the victim and beat her with a stick (wooden pole). The pole broke into three parts as he assaulted her. The defendant then found another stick and began to use it to continue the assault. The victim had numerous bruises along her back and arms in the shape of the stick. The defendant also fractured the victim’s orbital bone, cheekbone, and jaw. The victim required emergency surgery to repair the fractures. The doctor who performed the emergency surgery testified to her injuries at trial. The victim has lasting damage in her eye and will continue to have blurry vision in her eye for the rest of her life. The victim testified at trial. The defendant was eligible for probation and had no previous family violence convictions. The jury found the Defendant guilty of second-degree Aggravated Assault Serious Bodily Injury.
GUILTY and sentenced to 3 years in prison.
