The Justice Journal: Vol. 70 (English)

The Justice Journal: Vol. 70

A look at cases recently prosecuted by the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney's Office.

State vs. Lieu Bich Phan

Theft of Property >=$30k<$150k

Lead: Melinda Chaney

2nd Chair: Andrea Ingram

DA Investigators: Hoyt Hoffman, Alexander Lipsey, Alex Pinales, Garrick Whaley

DA Forensic Financial Analyst: DeAnna Debenport

Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department/Det. Ryan McCarrick

A Dallas County jury found the defendant guilty of a 3rd degree theft of $44,525, from her employer, Five Star Correctional Services, where she worked as an account clerk. Five Star Correctional Services provides food services to county jails in Texas.

The defendant unlawfully accessed business credit cards and linked them to her personal PayPal accounts.

She fled during the second day of trial but was found guilty in absentia.

In punishment, evidence presented included 26 years of the defendant’s criminal history and 12 offenses for which she was being supervised out of Denton County via the Interstate Compact. She was on parole for forgery and other offenses. Among other schemes, she: escaped from Iowa, faked a pregnancy and a birth to garner sympathy and financial support. She faked her father’s death, faked her own death and ingratiated herself in a Facebook group for French Bulldog owners and meddled for money.

The presiding Judge of the 194th Judicial District sentenced the defendant to 65 years in prison. A warrant for her arrest is active, and she remains at large.

GUILTY and sentenced to 65 years in prison.

State vs. Cirilo Espinoza-Jaimes

Murder

Lead: Emily Antram

2nd Chair: Amy Eades

DA Investigator: Claudia Marroquin

DA Paralegal: Andretta Lewis

Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department

On September 6, 2023, the victim arrived home to his apartment after an evening of church and ice cream with his girlfriend and her kids. He was ambushed right inside the door of his apartment, stabbed 34 times, dragged to the restroom of his one-bedroom apartment and left for dead. The next morning, the victim’s girlfriend found him and called 911.

During the investigation of this offense, Detective Jake Morgan discovered that the girlfriend’s ex-husband stalked the victim for months and planned for this night – their anniversary – in a twisted effort to show that he was still in control. The defendant, a sushi chef, left work early, drove across town and parked a 10-minute walk from the victim’s apartment. The defendant was found on video parking, walking through a creek and into the complex through a pedestrian gate with a white grocery sack. The defendant was smart, leaving no physical evidence in the apartment or in his truck, but the defendant did not plan for technology. Surveillance footage, flock cameras, call detail records and cell phone GPS all put the defendant at the scene for 2 hours before the complainant arrived and again leaving the crime scene 30 minutes after the murder. The defendant’s cell phone dump added more details: the defendant was in the area of the victim’s apartment early in the morning and late at night the weeks and months before the murder to study the victim’s schedule; the defendant rented a storage unit two weeks before the murder and visited it the morning after; the defendant visited Home Depot the week before and the day after the murder; the defendant went to have his truck cleaned the morning after the murder; and the defendant researched the victim, Santa Muerte and different weapons in preparation for this crime.

GUILTY and sentenced to 40 years in prison.

State vs. Quintrick Bickham

Aggravated Robbery

Impersonate Public Servant

Lead: Samantha Jackson

2nd Chair: Blake Penfield

DA Investigator: Aleciah Taylor, with help from Laura Brakefield and Maria Carrera

DA Paralegal: Shannon VanLoggerenberg

Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department

In the early morning of July 28, 2024, the defendant was at a red light when he decided to make the individual driving the vehicle to the right of him his victim. The defendant followed the victim all the way into his apartment complex parking lot. Once the victim parked his vehicle, the defendant’s plan began. He approached the victim wearing a dark colored vest with silver reflective stripes, handcuffs visible, and a hand on his holstered weapon, and demanded that the victim turn over his driver license. The victim, fully believing that the defendant was an officer, complied with the defendant’s requests. Once the victim let his guard down, the defendant was able to search victim’s vehicle and rob him of $80 cash and a pair of Apple airpod headphones. Luckly, an individual in the victim’s car was keen enough to record the interaction on her phone.

The victim went to the Dallas Police Department to show law enforcement the video, and the officer immediately recognized the defendant. Three weeks prior, on July 3, 2024, the defendant was also suspected of committing an aggravated robbery under the guise of impersonating a public servant/peace officer on another victim and was already on law enforcement’s radar. Therefore, when the officer saw footage of the defendant committing the almost exact same crime that had occurred three weeks before, he awas able to work with the detective assigned to swiftly put out a warrant for the defendant’s arrest.

The defendant was out on parole at the time of this offense. In 2017, the defendant was sentenced to  35 years in prison after being found guilty by a jury on a robbery in which the defendant used the same impersonation MO.

GUILTY and sentenced to 40 years in prison.

State vs. Amancio Noriz

Capital Murder

Lead: Jessica Trevizo

2nd Chair: Jacob Zachariah

DA Investigator: Steve Wilson

DA Victim Advocate: Maggie Negrete

Investigating Agency: Garland Police Department

On January 14, 2023, the juvenile defendant shot and killed Alan Chavez and Ruben Santibanez during a drug and gun deal in Garland, Texas.

Surveillance video from Trompo Taco Restaurant shows the two victims arriving in a white Chevy pickup truck. Both Hispanic males get out of the truck and go into the taco shop to buy drinks. The driver then returns to the truck and sits in the driver’s seat, while the passenger stays inside the restaurant.

A short time later, a gray car pulls up in front of the taco shop. The defendant gets out of the gray car, walks over to the white pickup, and gets into the passenger seat.

As this happens, the second Hispanic male (who was still in the taco shop) comes outside, walks up to the passenger side of the truck, leans into the open door, and appears to struggle with the defendant. Multiple gunshots are heard.

The second Hispanic male, who was struggling with the defendant, is then seen standing up slightly before collapsing against the truck and no longer moving. The defendant gets out of the truck and approaches the driver of the white pickup, who tries to run away. The defendant is seen shooting him.

Afterward, the defendant goes back to the truck, appears to take something from inside, and then drives away in his own car.

The defendant later fled to Mexico but eventually turned himself in.

GUILTY and agreed to 30 years in prison.

State vs. Anthony Sibrian

Murder

Lead: Amber Moore

2nd Chair: Tommy Adams

Appellate: ADA Rusty Anderson

DA Investigators: Alex Lipsey, Alex Pinales

DA Victim Advocate: Melinda Shelton

Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department

The defendant was 17 years old at the time when he shot his dad in the back while he was asleep following an argument. In the following days, the defendant got a price quote for speakers for his truck, went on a shopping spree at the Allen outlet mall and ditched his dad’s truck. The defendant also called family members asking the whereabouts of his dad feigning ignorance of his dad’s death. The victim was eventually found by a concerned coworker who showed up to his house looking for him. The victim’s body had already begun decomposing.

More than a week after the murder, the defendant eventually knocked on a neighbor’s door and asked her to call the police. He was interviewed by a homicide detective and confessed to the murder; however the confession was suppressed and the State lost on appeal.

While the case was pending appeal, the defendant was on bond for more than two years with no ankle monitor violations or any other criminal history.

During the State’s case in chef, a jail call was introduced where the defendant admitted to shooting his father to a family member.

GUILTY and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

State vs. Jose Cruz Vasquez

Sex Abuse of a Child Continuous: Victim under 14

Lead: Shanna Gosey

2nd Chair: Delayna Griffin

DA Investigator: Barry Maxwell

DA Victim Advocate: Vicenta Tapia

Investigating Agency: Irving Police Department

The defendant was found guilty of Sex Abuse of a Child Continuous: Victim under 14. The judge sentenced the defendant to 25 years in prison. The defendant will not be eligible for parole until he is 82 years old.

GUILTY and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

State vs. Ryan Glover

Aggravated Robbery

Lead: Emily Antram

2nd Chair: Taylor Cowin

DA Investigators: Claudia Marroquin, Miguel Medrano

DA Paralegal: Andretta Lewis

DA Victim Advocate: Sandra Walker

Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department, Irving Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office

On August 28, 2022, the defendant pointed a gun at a man, hit him in the face and dragged him out of his F150 by his hair before he drove off, crashing the F150 half a mile down IH35 at 1:30 am. The defendant then ran across the highway, attempting to steal other cars before he entered an 18-wheeler, assaulted that driver and attempted to take off. Security officers in the area tried to de-escalate the situation and get the defendant out of the 18-wheeler. In the process, the defendant attempted to take a service weapon from a commissioned security officer. The defendant did finally exit the 18-wheeler where he was tased and OC sprayed – both with no reaction. The defendant was finally detained with the help of five security officers.

It was later discovered that the defendant was fleeing from his own apartment where he murdered his friend and coworker. The jury heard the murder evidence in punishment after coming back with a guilty verdict on attempted taking of a weapon and the lesser charge of robbery.

GUILTY and sentenced to 15 years in prison on Robbery + 2 years State Jail on Attempted Take of Weapon.

State vs. Matthew White

Sexual Assault Proh/Purport Spouse

Lead: Michelle Shughart

2nd Chair: Amanda Boylan

DA Investigator: Tomicka McCloud

DA Victim Advocate: Audri Graham

The defendant physically abused multiple children and their mother for years. Then when the victim turned 15, he started sexually abusing her too.

GUILTY and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

State vs. James Freeman

Cruelty Non-Livestock Animal: Kill/Poison/Serious Bodily Injury

Lead: Jessica Trevizo

2nd Chair: Clint Stiffler

DA Investigator: Steve Wilson

DA Victim Advocate: Maggie Negrete

Investigating Agency: Dallas Police Department

On April 4, 2024, Investigating Officer Tamez, was contacted by the Auto Theft Unit regarding dogs chained up at a residence on Hull Avenue that appeared to be in poor living conditions. The dogs were found during an execution of a search warrant for a chop shop investigation.

Investigating Officers responded to the location and observed approximately nine dogs on the property and a loose horse. Of the nine dogs on the property, seven of them were tethered to fixed objects with a variety of chains. Officers located one dog, a large black mixed breed type dog, lying on its side on the dirt partially under a pallet held up by plastic crates. The dog had many flies around its body. Officer Tamez attempted to get the dog to move, but the dog was non-responsive and had extremely labored breathing.

Animal Cruelty Detectives requested the dog’s owner, the defendant, to come and take a look at this dog, but the dog died before he arrived. The defendant stated that the dog had stopped eating for approximately two days prior. Officer Tamez observed the deceased dog’s gums to be pale in color and no capillary refill and a metal hardhat upside down near the dog with what appeared to be clear liquid with white substance inside. The defendant owner surrendered his deceased dog to Dallas Animal Services.

At the time, Office Tamez, observed the deceased dog to have numerous fleas on his body from the head to the tail. The belly of the dog was infested with fleas that were moving all over, and its ribs and spine were prominent and easily seen through its skin. The deceased dog’s eyes appeared to be sunken into his head, and the only water located within reach of the dog was green and stagnant.

The necropsy performed on the deceased dog revealed a substantial number of adult heartworms within the right side of the heart and right lung. Undoubtedly, the severity of the heartworm infestation significantly compromised cardiac function. The heartworms acted as a physical obstruction within the heart impeding the normal flow and function of both the heart and lungs. This obstruction would critically affect the overall cardiovascular system, leading to systemic impacts on all other bodily systems.

GUILTY and sentenced to 2 years in prison.

State vs. Juan Jacob Diaz

Violation of a Protective Order 2+ Times within 12 Months

Lead: Cassidy Richardson

DA Investigators, Danny Titus, Anthony Winn, JD Vance, Michael Csaszar, Mindy Fancher, Laura Brakefield, John Ludwigs, Garrick Whaley

DA Paralegals: Leslie Smith, Pamela Betts, Amy Nolan, Marissa Novak

DA Victim Advocates: Erika Ransom, Sharon Counts, Amy Gossot, Viviana Monroy-Garcia

Big shoutout to the Family Violence and Mental Health Divisions, Protective Order Unit, and Kalle Riner for their guidance since day one when this came in as a Misdemeanor!

After serving 13 full years in prison on five counts of Aggravated Robbery, the defendant went to live with his grandmother and immediately began terrorizing females of all ages in the neighborhood. From chasing after a ten-year-old on her bike to groping a 68-year-old while she was gardening to stalking other female neighbors at all hours of the night and day, running up on a female when she was locked out of her house to kiss her, pushing and strangling his mother in broad daylight, and even jumping on top of his grandmother in bed exposing himself to her. In his four months of freedom, the defendant racked up countless victims but with the help of all above, he is headed back to prison.

GUILTY plea and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

State vs. Andrew Estevan Sanchez

Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle causing Serious Bodily Injury

Lead: Cassidy Richardson

DA Investigator: Danny Titus

DA Paralegal: Leslie Smith

Investigating Agency: Irving Police Department

Special thanks to the Vehicular Crimes Unit for their guidance!

On August 30, 2023, the 21-year-old defendant was driving with his 18-year-old girlfriend, Bailey, who was riding in the front passenger seat. They were heading back to his parent’s home in Euless from the Dallas Aquarium where they had been drinking all day. Both had blood alcohol content levels over three times the legal limit. The defendant was weaving in and out of traffic while going 97 miles per hour when he lost control and rear ended and side-swiped another vehicle with a four-year-old passenger. The collision caused Bailey, who was not wearing a seatbelt, to be ejected over 150 feet from the vehicle. 911 calls came pouring in and by all accounts she appeared dead. Paramedics were unsure whether Bailey was going to make it when they dropped her off at Parkland Hospital. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, was told she would never run again, spent over two months in Parkland including the ICU Burn Unit for road rash covering most of her body, was flown back to her home state of Oregon, followed by months of in home around the clock car and her other becoming her permanent conservator.

It was a miracle that Bailey survived and was able to walk into the courtroom to testify to this offense and the defendant’s arrest for Felony Domestic Violence and Strangulation against her in Oregon just one moth prior to the crash.

GUILTY open plea and sentenced to 6 years in prison + a deadly weapon finding.