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District Attorney - Press Releases

Posted on: May 19, 2022

Driver sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing teen who tried to escape moving car

Booking photo of Steven Xzavier Medina

A San Antonio man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday for driving under the influence of drugs and killing a 16-year-old girl who tried to get out of the moving car.

Steven Xzavier Medina, 20, pled guilty to a charge of intoxication manslaughter in March. Evidence showed that on Jan. 26, 2020, Medina was driving recklessly while under the influence of drugs, including THC and methamphetamine. When his three passengers asked him to stop so they could get out due to his erratic driving, Medina pulled over but only two were able to get out before he left the location. The third passenger, Jessica Medina, became tangled in the seatbelt and could not free herself as the defendant sped down the road. She was dragged nearly four miles until Medina stopped the vehicle in the 3600 blk. of Culebra Rd. Jessica Medina died from her injuries. Steven and Jessica Medina are not related.

Steven Medina was sentenced to 15 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division. Because there was an affirmative finding of a deadly weapon (vehicle), Medina must serve half of the sentence before he is first eligible for parole.

“At the time of this incident, all of the people in the car were under the age of 18. This one night changed the lives of so many. As a parent, I know this is the fear we all have. There is nothing the criminal justice system can do to bring back Jessica. I hope that the resolution of this case allows all of these families to move forward and honor the memory of a young girl whose life was cut short,” said Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales.

Assistant District Attorney Brandon Ramsey of the Criminal Trial Division prosecuted this case in the 144th District Court. The San Antonio Police Department investigated the crime.

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