56 individuals in Harris County receive life sentences in 2024

Nolan Brown

2 days ago

The prison in Texas is equipped with a guard tower and razor wire for enhanced security measures.

In Harris County, Texas, a total of 56 individuals were sentenced to life in prison in 2024. Additionally, 37 individuals received sentences of more than 51 years. These statistics reflect the significant impact of the legal system on the lives of those involved.

Out of the total 93 cases, 82 were classified as felony cases, while the remaining 11 were considered capital cases. As per the district attorney’s office, a jury rendered verdicts in 55 cases, 35 individuals opted for plea deals, and the presiding judge made decisions in three cases.

In the year 2023, there were a total of 47 individuals who received life sentences and an additional 29 individuals who were sentenced to more than 51 years in prison.

The Harris County Criminal District Attorney’s Office has provided information on numerous 2024 cases.

Harris County Life Sentences for 2024

David Spates, 61

David Spates, aged 61, was charged by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Quinnton R. Allen, 30

Quinnton R. Allen, a 30-year-old man, has been identified as the suspect in the case (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office).

Quinnton R. Allen, aged 30, received a life sentence on Feb. 2, 2024, from a Harris County jury for the fatal shooting of Luis Espinoza, aged 29, on June 18, 2022. The tragic incident occurred in Houston’s Near Northside neighborhood. At the time of the shooting, Espinoza was driving a white Jeep Cherokee near the intersection of Fairbanks and Gano, close to a convenience store. Surveillance footage captured Allen at the store and later walking towards Espinoza’s vehicle. Being acquainted with Espinoza, Allen engaged him in conversation as he approached the driver’s side window of the Cherokee. The interaction lasted for approximately two minutes before Allen retrieved a 9mm pistol from his backpack and fired seven shots, striking Espinoza six times. Following a four-day trial, the jury handed down the sentence on the same day Allen was found guilty.

Santos Perfecto Melendez-Granados, 35

Santos Perfecto Melendez-Granados, aged 35, has been identified as the individual involved (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office).

Ronnie Davontay Scott, 29

Ronnie Davontay Scott, 29, was charged by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

In 2021, Ronnie Davontay Scott, a 29-year-old man, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, for the premeditated murder of a 24-year-old man from Georgia. Scott pleaded guilty to the murder, exchanging it for a life sentence. The victim, Donnie Glover, was killed on February 23, 2021, at approximately 12:50 a.m. After serving 30 years, Scott will be eligible for parole. Glover had recently graduated from college and had moved from Georgia to Houston in October 2020. He had been attempting to start a romantic relationship with a 21-year-old woman, who was secretly collaborating with Scott. Together, they planned to lure Glover to a secluded area behind an apartment complex, intending to rob him of his money and steal his new orange Dodge Charger. Moments before his death, Glover made a distress call to 911, reporting that he was being pursued by individuals attempting to steal his vehicle outside an apartment complex located in the 4000 block of Linkwood Drive. The 911 dispatcher heard gunshots during the call, and when the Houston Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Glover’s body at the rear of the complex. The following day, Scott and the woman were found joyriding in Glover’s vehicle, according to the D.A.

Demontae Lavon Williams, 28

Demontae Lavon Williams, aged 28, has been identified as the suspect in this case (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office).

Demontae Lavon Williams, aged 28, has been found guilty of capital murder by a Harris County jury following a four-day trial. Williams was convicted of killing Jailyn Page, aged 19, Bryce Lee Goddard, aged 21, and Christopher Donshae Jackson, aged 22, on October 20, 2020. On February 16, 2024, he received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Along with another individual, whose case is still pending, Williams was able to bypass security and bring guns into a club located in the 2100 block of Chenevert. Inside the club, they encountered several acquaintances from their neighborhood. The situation quickly escalated, with members of the other group shouting at Williams and his companion. In response, Williams and the other individual drew their handguns and fired shots, resulting in the deaths of Page and Goddard. Tragically, Jackson, who was not involved in the altercation, was fatally struck by a stray bullet. Despite Williams’ claims of self-defense, the jury rejected his

Kentrell Obrien Brumfield, 36

Kentrell Obrien Brumfield, aged 36, has been charged by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Roger Allan Smith, 55

Roger Allan Smith, aged 55, was recently brought to the attention of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Marcus Kenneth Cox-Davis, 24

Marcus Kenneth Cox-Davis, 24, was charged by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Marcus Kenneth Cox-Davis, aged 24, committed the heinous act of shooting 32-year-old Donna Peña, a devoted mother of two, while she was working at a gas station in northwest Harris County on March 8, 2019. The evidence collected by the Harris County Sheriff’s deputies, including surveillance video of the crime, led to his conviction for capital murder. During the investigation, law enforcement discovered a blue hoodie worn by the assailant, which was found in the subdivision behind the gas station. DNA analysis revealed that the DNA sample from Cox-Davis matched the DNA found on the hoodie. In February 2024, Cox-Davis received a life sentence for his despicable actions. In exchange for this sentence, he pleaded guilty to murder, forfeiting his right to appeal the conviction or the length of his imprisonment. It is important to note that he will be required to serve a minimum of 30 years behind bars before being eligible for parole.

Dewayne Batiste, 43

Dewayne Batiste, aged 43, was identified as the suspect by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Dewayne Batiste, aged 43, received a life sentence without parole on March 9, 2024, for orchestrating a fatal ambush that claimed the lives of an 11-year-old boy, Dominic Sumicek, and his 41-year-old stepfather, Menuell Solomon. The incident occurred on October 26, 2020, when Batiste, convicted of capital murder, arranged for Solomon’s killing in an attempt to evade accountability for an earlier armed robbery. Prosecutors believe that Batiste, with the assistance of Desmond Hawkins, a documented gang member, had been waiting in parked cars for three hours for Solomon to return home. When Solomon arrived with his stepson, Hawkins emerged from a hole in the chain link fence, approached the car, and shot the 11-year-old twice before firing four shots at Solomon, resulting in their deaths. After the attack, Hawkins and Batiste fled in separate vehicles, and the entire incident lasted only 49 seconds. Hawkins, who was already on bond for another capital murder case, was apprehended by the Houston Police Department detectives due to his GPS monitor. In September 2023, Hawkins, the triggerman, was convicted of capital murder and also received a life sentence without parole.

Cameron Michael Davis, 32

Cameron Michael Davis, who is 32 years old, was identified by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as the source of this information.

Cameron Michael Davis, a 32-year-old resident of Humble, was sentenced to life imprisonment on April 5, 2024. This verdict came after a Harris County jury convicted him of murdering his girlfriend, Ryniscia Sanford, who was 27 years old at the time. The tragic incident occurred on September 23, 2021, around noon. The confrontation between Davis and Sanford took place near a residential complex on Cypress Station Drive in north Harris County. Surveillance footage captured Sanford swiftly exiting the car and attempting to flee on foot. Davis, however, emerged from his vehicle brandishing a semi-automatic pistol equipped with an extended clip. He persistently pursued Sanford for approximately 20 minutes. Eventually catching up to her, Sanford attempted to calm him down. However, her efforts proved futile as she fled once again, only to be shot in the back by Davis. As she lay defenseless on the ground, he approached her, took aim, and callously fired six shots into the back of her head. A

Scottie Dewayne Nelson, 49

Scottie Dewayne Nelson, 49, has been identified as the suspect in the murder case, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Scottie Dewayne Nelson, a 49-year-old resident of Houston, was handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole on April 5, 2024, for the rape of a 15-year-old boy on September 11, 2022. This marked Nelson’s second conviction for child rape. The incident occurred when Nelson, positioned on the porch outside his home in north Houston, beckoned the passing teenager over to engage in conversation and subsequently enticed him into his residence. Testimony from the victim revealed that once inside, Nelson brandished a silver handgun, coercing the boy into engaging in sexual activity. Moreover, he issued threats of violence to prevent the teen from disclosing the encounter to anyone. The victim’s mother, concerned when her son failed to return home, promptly alerted law enforcement. Houston Police Department officers promptly responded to the call, initiating an investigation that culminated in Nelson’s subsequent arrest. Notably, Nelson had previously received a 10-year prison sente

Brian Ward Coulter, 34

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Ethan Caleb Thomas, 22

Ethan Caleb Thomas, 22, was identified as the suspect in the case (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office).

Ethan Caleb Thomas, a 22-year-old resident of Houston, has been sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years, for the 2022 murder of a truck driver during an armed robbery. On February 11, 2022, Thomas pleaded guilty to the murder of 50-year-old Jose Canales. Canales, a parking lot sweeping truck driver, was fatally shot while collecting debris in a parking lot located in the 19500 block of Tomball Parkway.

Thomas and another individual drove into the parking lot, as captured by surveillance footage. They patiently waited for Canales to exit his truck before confronting him. While Thomas engaged in an argument with Canales, the second suspect proceeded to the truck and stole Canales’ phone and other personal belongings. Thomas physically assaulted Canales and ultimately shot him once. Following the incident, the two men fled the scene in an SUV, leaving Canales to return to his truck. Unfortunately, he was unable to seek help as his phone had been stolen.

Jerome Moore, 25

Jerome Moore, aged 25, (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office)

A Houston man, Jerome Moore, was sentenced to life in prison on May 6, 2024, for a series of crimes in the Galleria area. The crime spree included six armed robberies, as well as a fatal shooting in 2016 that claimed the lives of three individuals. Following a seven-day trial, Moore chose to have his sentence determined by a judge rather than the jury that had convicted him. To aid the judge in reaching a decision, prosecutors presented evidence in court detailing all of Moore’s armed robberies. Additionally, they were able to establish that Moore, a documented gang member, had shot and killed three individuals at a block party in Houston’s Fourth Ward on the Fourth of July in 2016. Moore specifically targeted a man whom he believed was affiliated with a rival gang. His gunfire erupted amidst the street party, coinciding with the nearby Freedom Over Texas celebration. Tragically, three men lost their lives, while two others, including a 10-year-old boy, sustained injuries. Moore will be required to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before he becomes eligible for parole.

Oscar Ariel Sierra, 19

Oscar Ariel Sierra, aged 19, was identified as the suspect in the case (Source: Harris County District Attorney Office).

Alexander Salvador Ordonez, 22

Alexander Salvador Ordonez, 22, has been identified as the individual involved in the incident (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office).

On June 6, 2024, Alexander Salvador Ordonez, the first of two brothers accused of a crime spree in 2021, was sentenced to life in prison. Following a five-day trial, Ordonez, aged 22, was convicted by a jury of murder for killing 19-year-old Cameron B. Stevens at a Cypress Station apartment complex on February 6, 2021. Despite not knowing Ordonez or his younger brother, Kevin Ordonez, Stevens had arranged to meet them late at night at the well-lit complex to purchase a handgun. However, when the deal fell through, Stevens began walking away from the Ordonez brothers, who were in a white 2012 Chevy Malibu. The brothers slowly approached Stevens, who was unarmed and heading back to his apartment. They fired at him, striking him once in the head and causing his death. Investigators later discovered that the brothers had been involved in an armed robbery the day before, during which a man was shot in the leg. Additionally, the day after the murder, the brothers committed another armed robb

Jourdan Ellison, 22

Jourdan Ellison, 22, was charged by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

A 22-year-old man from Houston, Jourdan Ellison, was sentenced to life in prison on July 25, 2024, after being found guilty of capital murder. Ellison, who was 17 at the time of the crime, was convicted for killing his acquaintance, 19-year-old rapper Christian Alexander Lezama, during a robbery at Lezama’s apartment on September 4, 2019. Ellison, along with two other men, planned and executed the robbery at an apartment building located in the downtown area of Houston, specifically in the 1800 block of St. Joseph Parkway.

At the time of the incident, Lezama was playing video games at home with three friends, including Ellison. During a game break, Ellison brandished a firearm and called in his two accomplices to assist with the robbery. He demanded money, a necklace, and a diamond-encrusted dental grill from Lezama. The situation quickly escalated into a heated argument, followed by a violent altercation. Ellison and his accomplices physically assaulted Lezama and another individual present in the apartment by striking them with the pistol. Tragically, Ellison then shot and killed Lezama before fleeing the scene with his partners in crime.

As per Texas law, because Ellison was a minor (17 years old) at the time of the murder, he will be eligible for parole after serving 40 years in prison. However, his accomplices, Deric Williams (26 years old) and Michael Sykes (24 years old), who were both above the age of 17 during the shooting, will face life imprisonment without the possibility

Manuel Enrique Arana Jr., 42

Manuel Enrique Arana Jr., aged 42, (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office)

Manuel Enrique Arana Jr., 42, received a life sentence without parole on August 12, 2024, for sexually molesting a child. The trial lasted four days and the jury heard evidence that Arana had repeatedly assaulted a young girl for over a year, starting when she was only 7 years old. Arana has a lengthy criminal record of harming women and girls. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a female family member in a domestic violence incident. Prior to that, in 1999, he was convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old when he was 17. He served eight years in prison for that offense after admitting his guilt. Following his release, Arana was required to register as a sex offender, but he failed to comply and was incarcerated again in 2009.

Jarell Carelone Barrows, 22

Jarell Carelone Barrows, 22, was charged by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Jarell Carelone Barrows, a 22-year-old resident of Houston, has been handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He was found guilty of capital murder on August 15, 2024, for the robbery and killing of Emmanuel Browne, a recent graduate of Lone Star College who owned his own cellphone repair business. The incident took place during a daytime robbery at approximately 1:10 p.m. on April 29, 2021.

On the day of the murder, Barrows, along with another individual named James Duplechain, contacted Browne and asked him to come to an apartment complex in Houston’s South Side neighborhood to repair a phone. Browne, who had moved to the United States from Liberia at the age of 10, had developed his skills in cellphone repair as a teenager after breaking his own phone. He used his knowledge to establish a successful business offering mobile repairs. To prioritize his safety, Browne would often work from his car instead of entering the homes of unfamiliar customers.

When Browne met Barrows and Duplechain at the designated location, surveillance footage revealed that Browne was seated in the driver’s seat of his car, with his window rolled down, attempting to fix one of their phones. Barrows and Duplechain were standing outside the car, and Barrows suddenly pulled out a gun, placing it against Browne’s head. Barrows proceeded to open the driver’s-side door while keeping the gun pressed against Browne’s head. He also attempted to open one of the backseat doors, where Browne stored hi

Jose Orbin Martinez-Lopez, 46

Jose Orbin Martinez-Lopez, aged 46, was identified as the perpetrator (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office).

Buck McCoy, 43

Buck McCoy, aged 43 (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office).

Jarvis Hickerson, 40

Jarvis Hickerson, aged 40, was arrested by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Jarvis Earl Hickerson, a 40-year-old resident of Houston, met his fate when he was found guilty of capital murder on September 18, 2024. The conviction came after an intense eight-day trial, where it was determined that he was responsible for the death of 32-year-old Amalia Alexander on September 19, 2016. Prior to the tragic incident, Alexander had taken legal action against Hickerson by filing an assault charge and obtaining a protective order. This was in response to an altercation at a north Houston IHOP restaurant, where Hickerson had physically assaulted her.

During the trial, the jury was presented with compelling evidence that showcased Hickerson’s attempts to manipulate and coerce Alexander into dropping the charges against him. He even went as far as proposing to her, hoping it would prevent her from testifying against him. Unfortunately, when these efforts failed, Hickerson resorted to the ultimate act of violence, taking Alexander’s life in her own apartment. He then callously disposed of her remains in a field located in Montgomery County. It was only two months later that investigators were able to trace the last known location of Alexander’s missing cellphone, leading them to the discovery of her body in a shallow grave.

The exact method by which Hickerson carried out the murder remains unknown. However, what is clear is that even while out on bond, he continued to engage in dangerous behavior. Hickerson tampered with his GPS ankle monitor and went on to assault anoth

Christian Cavazos, 22

Christian Cavazos, 22, was charged by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

A Houston gang member with a criminal record has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of five individuals in three separate shooting incidents in 2019. The crime spree commenced on September 6, 2019, when Cavazos and his accomplices fired multiple shots at a car, injuring the driver. Subsequently, Cavazos approached the vehicle and fatally shot 19-year-old Ryan McGowan, who was seated in the back. Later that month, on September 25, 2019, Cavazos and his associates were driving around late at night. They spotted a purple Dodge Charger that they believed belonged to a rival gang member and began tailing it. Unbeknownst to them, the distinctive vehicle actually belonged to 65-year-old Ramiro Reyes and his wife, Rosalva Reyes, aged 63. Cavazos and his group followed the couple to their residence in northwest Houston, where they shot and killed them as they exited their car in front of their house. Almost three months later, on December 27, 2019, Cavazos once again played the role of the triggerman, this time in a drive-by shooting in north Harris County. As a passenger in a vehicle, Cavazos randomly fired shots at an outdoor film set where a group of individuals were filming a music video. Tragically, videographer Gonzalo Andrew Gonzalez, aged 22, and Jonathan Jimenez, aged 20, lost their lives in the shooting, while seven others sustained injuries. Instead of going to trial for capital murder, Cavazos decided to plead guilty to three counts of murder. The judge, after a sent

Luis Luna, 27

Luis Luna, who is 27 years old, was identified by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Lawrence Reed, 56

Lawrence Reed, aged 56, was charged by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Jorge Trevino Cardenas, 52

Jorge Trevino Cardenas, aged 52, was charged by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Van Henry Brisbon, 62

Van Henry Brisbon, age 62, (Source: Harris County District Attorney’s Office)

A 62-year-old man from Humble, Van Henry Brisbon, was sentenced on October 17, 2024, to life in prison without parole. He was convicted of capital murder by a Harris County jury for the killing of 16-year-old Lauren Juma, his girlfriend’s teenage daughter. The tragic incident occurred in their home in Humble around 1 a.m. on April 29, 2022.

Lauren, who was a student at Nimitz High School, was alone with Brisbon when she FaceTimed her mother and sister, expressing her concerns about his strange behavior. Lauren’s mother, who was away for work, immediately dispatched her older sister to pick up the teenager. Upon arriving at the house, the sister discovered that Brisbon was holding Lauren against her will at gunpoint.

Deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office promptly responded to the scene after hearing gunshots emanating from inside the house. Brisbon eventually exited the house and was apprehended by the authorities. Tragically, Lauren had already lost her life, having been s

Daniel Chacon, 32

A Houston man, Daniel Chacon, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on December 17, 2024, for the kidnapping and fatal shooting of his ex-girlfriend, Maira Gutierrez. The 32-year-old Chacon was found guilty of capital murder for the killing that occurred on October 3, 2022. The couple had ended their relationship approximately a month before the tragic incident.

At the time of the murder, Chacon had temporary custody of their 6-month-old child, who was living with him and his new pregnant girlfriend, also a mother of one of Chacon’s children. Gutierrez used to visit her baby regularly while Chacon was at work, usually around 9 a.m. On that fateful day, Gutierrez was visiting the baby at Chacon’s apartment on Red Bluff, in the 3800 block, at around 9 a.m., when Chacon, who was not present at the time, made a phone call ordering her to abruptly end her visit and leave.

As Gutierrez returned to her silver SUV in the parking lot of Chacon’s apartment complex, she was unaware that Chacon was hiding in the backseat with a handgun. Witnesses in the complex heard her cries for help as Chacon chased her when she tried to escape. They then observed Chacon forcibly placing Gutierrez in the backseat of her SUV at gunpoint. Chacon then took control of the vehicle and fled the scene while neighbors contacted 911. The Pasadena police responded promptly to the distress call.

An emergency ping was initiated to locate Gutierrez’s phone, which was eventually found by Houston Police Department

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