BEAUMONT, Texas — A man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for felony aggravated assault.
A Jefferson County jury sentenced 46-year-old Recarido Antonio Terrell after he was found guilty of shooting a woman in 2022.
According information presented during the trial, on July 13, 2022, Terrell was driving eastbound on I-10 around 11:00 p.m. when he and his female passenger began to argue.
Terrell grabbed a handgun and fired at least one shot in the direction of the woman before she decided to jump out of the vehicle while it was still moving, according to witness testimony. Terrell then stopped and got out of his vehicle and shot her as she tried to run away.
She was able to escape and make her way to a nearby business where an employee called 911. Emergency personnel responded and she was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Once she was released from the hospital, the woman was informed that several hours after she was shot by Terrell, law enforcement found Terrell’s vehicle outside of her burning home. The home was a total loss.
During the punishment phase of the trial, the prosecutor, Tommy L. Coleman, provided evidence and witness testimony showing Terrell had several previous felony convictions out of Mississippi.
He also showed that Terrell had a recent Jefferson County arrest for possessing fentanyl and that while awaiting trial in this case, jail staff found a home-made weapon in his cell.
Coleman pointed out that Terrell’s previous prison sentences, when combined, totaled 35 years.
“Despite having been previously sentenced to prison for a total of 35 years, he has remained undeterred and unrehabilitated,” Coleman said.
The jury deliberated for less than an hour before deciding the 40-year sentence.
Presiding Judge Larry Thorne immediately sentenced Terrell.
Terrell faced up to 99 years. He will be eligible for parole when his time served equals one-half of his sentence.