Man convicted of manslaughter in Abilene
A man found guilty of manslaughter took a plea deal for his punishment Monday in 104th District Court.
A Taylor County jury took about three hours Friday to find Sixto Daniel Torres guilty of manslaughter for killing Bernardo Aguilar.
The jury decided not to find Torres guilty of murder in the first-degree, opting for the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Monday in court, defense attorney Jacob Blizzard negotiated with the chief prosecutor of the 104th District Court, Bryan Hall, to avoid a punishment verdict from the same jurors who had convicted Torres.
While Torres stood in a darkened section of courtroom, Blizzard went back and forth several times with Hall to reach a plea deal without the jury present.
After Hall consulted with the victim's family members, they reached an agreement.
Torres then sat quietly in court with a scared look on his face, taking several deep breaths before answering Judge Jeff Propst when asked if he had agreed to the plea deal.
Torres will serve 18 years in prison, instead of the maximum sentence of 20 years, for the manslaughter conviction.
Propst, however, brought up a felony charge against Torres of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.
While the cocaine charge carried a much larger possible sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison, Torres will serve 15.
He pleaded guilty Monday to that felony charge and will serve those 15 years concurrent with the manslaughter sentence. Torres will, however, receive credit for any time served before the convictions.
Propst pointed out that for the cocaine charge, Torres has waived his right to an appeal. Torres retains, however, the right to appeal the manslaughter conviction if he so chooses.
'For reasons unknown . . . shot him'
Abilene police officers were called to a construction site Feb. 12, 2022, according to court documents. Dispatchers from 911 had received a call about someone who had been shot in the head.
Torres had been part of the construction crew that had been working on a home in Abilene, along with the victim, Aguilar.
Witnesses "reported that Sixto Torres, for reasons unknown, walked up to Bernardo Aguilar and shot him in the head," according to the complaint.
Detectives found the victim "dead, lying on the ground, with a single gunshot wound to the head."
Evaluation for competency
Court documents never revealed why Torres had shot Aguilar.
Documents did show that Torres had previously undergone an evaluation for mental competency to stand trial.
His lawyer at the time, Jenny Henley, requested a psychological exam on Feb. 22, 2022. The evaluation took place on May 9, 2022.
While the psychological records are sealed, Torres was found competent to stand trial.
Records show, however, that on Dec. 27, 2023, Torres' lawyer filed a motion to suppress statements that Torres had made, claiming that "any statements made by Sixto Torres were involuntary and were coerced and enticed."
According to the motion, Torres was deprived of the right to counsel, and his statements were "tainted by the illegal and unlawful detention and arrest."
Court documents show his statements were not mentioned in the complaint or indictment filed at the Taylor County Courthouse.
The cocaine case
According to court documents filed before the murder charge, Torres was accused of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.
A Tye Police officer pulled over Torres on Jan. 23, 2021, when he failed to use his turn signal, according to a complaint.
The officer smelled marijuana in the car and searched Torres' vehicle. He found baggies, which tests later revealed contained marijuana, with a total weight of 3.06 ounces.
The officer also found, however, over 39 grams of a substance which was later determined to be cocaine. Torres' vehicle also contained various baggies, two handguns and over $5,400 in cash.
More on his arrest Taylor County Sheriff's Office: Suspect shot man at Coronado's Camp for 'unknown' reason
More on a recent drug bust Major drug bust at Abilene ice cream shop reveals ties to Mexican cartel
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Man convicted of manslaughter in Abilene
