SUBMITTED REPORT
After finding Rogelio Alaniz Jr. guilty on three counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a Hays County jury ordered Alaniz to serve 25 years in prison on each charge. Alaniz, age 29, of San Antonio was charged with the shooting of three people on June 19, 2011 at a residence on Alabama Street in San Marcos.
Testimony at trial showed that a number of persons were on a “party bus” traveling from Austin to San Marcos. On the bus there was an altercation between two of the occupants which continued once the bus arrived in San Marcos. Alaniz, who was not involved in the original disturbance, pulled out a handgun and began firing into the crowd striking three people.
Alaniz then fled the scene in a dark colored PT Cruiser. Witnesses were able to provide a description of the vehicle as well as license plate number. This information was broadcast to area law enforcement agencies and Alaniz was apprehended during a traffic stop in New Braunfels a short time later.
During the punishment phase of the trial Assistant District Attorney Ben Moore introduced evidence showing that Alaniz had previously served time in prison for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Sergeant Mike Wood of the Hays County Gang Taskforce also testified that Alaniz was a documented member of a prison gang known as Tango Blast.
He must serve a minimum of one half his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The trial took place in front of Judge Gary Steel.