This week, Bexar County Grand Juries handed down 259 felony indictments.
Jose Damian Canales is charged with murder. The indictment alleges that on July 16, 2021, Canales intentionally and knowingly caused the death of Steven Lawrence Byars by shooting Byars with a deadly weapon (firearm). This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 186th District Court. Murder is a first degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
Juan Antonio Coronado Jr. is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child. The three-count indictment alleges that during a period that was more than 30 or more days in duration, to-wit: from on or about Jan. 22, 2009 through Jan. 20, 2019, when Coronado was 17 years of age or older he committed two or more acts of sexual abuse against children younger than 14 years of age. This case is being prosecuted by the Family Violence Division in the 227th District Court. Continuous sexual abuse of a child is a first degree felony punishable by 25 to 99 years or up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Michael Anthony Garcia is charged with multiple offenses.
- Aggravated sexual assault: This indictment alleges that on Aug. 15, 2007, Garcia intentionally and knowingly caused the penetration of the sexual organ of a complainant by Garcia’s sexual organ, said act having been committed without the consent of the complainant in that Garcia compelled the complainant to submit and participate by the use of physical force and violence, and Garcia did by acts or words place the complainant in fear that serious bodily injury would be imminently inflicted on the complainant.
- Aggravated sexual assault: This indictment alleges that on March 26, 2010, Garcia intentionally and knowingly caused the penetration of a complainant by his sexual organ, said act having been committed without the consent of the complainant, in that Garcia compelled the complainant to submit and participate by threatening to use force and violence against the complainant, and the complainant believed that Garcia had the present ability to execute the threat, and in the course of the same criminal episode Garcia used and exhibited a deadly weapon, to-wit: a knife, that in the manner of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury.
- Aggravated sexual assault: This indictment alleges that on Jan. 1, 2014, Garcia intentionally and knowingly caused the penetration of the sexual organ of a complainant by Garcia’s sexual organ, said act having been committed without the consent of the complainant, in that Garcia compelled the complainant to submit and participate by the use of physical force and violence, and in the course of the same criminal episode Garcia used and exhibited a deadly weapon, to-wit: a knife, that in the manner of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury.
- Sexual assault: This indictment alleges that on Nov. 20, 2007, Garcia intentionally and knowingly caused the penetration of the sexual organ of a complainant by Garcia’s sexual organ, said act having been committed without the consent of the complainant, in that Garcia compelled the complainant to submit and participate by threatening to use force and violence against the complainant and the complainant believed that the defendant had the present ability to execute the threat.
These cases and three other previously indicted cases are being prosecuted by the Family Violence Division in the 290th District Court. Aggravated sexual assault is a first degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
Jeremy Robert Voreis is charged with manslaughter. The indictment alleges that on Jan. 29, 2021, Voreis recklessly caused the death of Roberta Lopez by failing to apply the brakes in a timely and reasonable manner, driving and operating a motor vehicle at a speed that was not reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing, and failing to take proper and necessary evasive action to avoid colliding with another motor vehicle in which Lopez was a passenger. This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 399th District Court. Manslaughter is a second degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
Samantha Leigh Castillo is charged with intoxication manslaughter. The indictment alleges that on April 7, 2021, Castillo operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, and did by reason of such intoxication cause the death of Beatrice Gonzalez by accident or mistake by Castillo driving said motor vehicle into Gonzalez. This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 399th District Court. Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. A person charged by indictment is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury or a judge. Because these and potentially other cases are either pending or may be under investigation, we can make no further comment on them.
Copies of indictments may be requested from the Bexar County District Clerk. Information on court settings can be found by searching the case online or directly from the court.