BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont man facing a potential 99 year sentence if found guilty has taken a plea deal while the jury was deliberating.
Antonio Monte Jones, 33, pleaded guilty late Wednesday to a 2020 aggravated robbery and shooting that left a man paralyzed.
The shooting happened on January 5, 2020 at a residence in the 800 block of Pipkin Street. Police said masked men forced their way into the residence, later shooting a father in front of his two children.
The shooting left the victim paralyzed, according to a Beaumont Police Department release.
“It’s not a real long trial, but it’s real important," Defense Attorney James Makin told the jury during closing arguments.
Makin reminded the jury that the police did not find a fingerprint on bullet casings.
During closing arguments, Prosecutor Mike Laird told the jury that Jones admitted he lied.
“He has done nothing but lie,” Laird said.
Laird then reminded the jury that he was ID’d by the victim who is in a wheelchair. He told them that the victim has never changed his story that Jones is the man who shot him.
During the 2nd day of testimony, Beaumont Police Officer Bradley Martin was the first witness the prosecution called to the stand Wednesday morning.
Martin testified that he was the first policeman to arrive at the house.
He testified when he first saw the victim, he could see that he had been shot several times. Video from his body camera was shown in court.
The prosecution's next witness was Vanessa Barnet, a police department I.D. technician.
She testified that a palm print of Jones was found at the scene.
Defense Attorney James Makin cross examined her about the evidence, asking if DNA testing was done on the blood that she found, if she found any prints other than Jones palm print and if she was able to determine the caliber of the bullet found.
Martin responded no to each question.
During testimony Wednesday afternoon, Defense Attorney James Makin called Jones to the stand.
Makin mentioned a video of an interview a detective had with Jones following the murder. Makin mentioned that the detective in the interview later testified that at no time did Jones express remorse or concern for the victim.
Jones was asked if what the detective said was true.
“No sir,” Jones said.
Jones then began to describe having a relative and friends check on the victim.
“Did you think it would be proper if you called and expressed concern or remorse or something?” said Makin.
“No sir,” said Jones
In cross examination, Prosecutor Mike Laird asked Jones about the taped interview.
Laird asked Jones if he lied about not being in house when the victim was shot, about if his car was used, and about being at his girlfriend’s house when the shooting happened.
Jones admitted to lying about these things. Makin then asked about a list of things in the interview.
"Yes," Jones said.
Jones was the only witness called by the defense.
During opening statements on Tuesday, Laird told the jury the victim pleaded with the robbers not to shoot him in front of his kids.
Laird then described the victim throwing his kids out of the way of gunshots as one of the suspects fired at him several times.
Laird told the jury the victim was hit in the back, shoulder and other parts of his body and described the victim shouting at his 6-year-old to grab his sister and run outside.
During opening statements, Makin told the jury that there were other people involved in the home invasion. He told the jury that the evidence will show that the victim did not say the defendant was the shooter until after he was shown a photo.
Makin told the jury the actual shooter should be punished more than the non-shooter, but was interrupted by Laird, who objected saying this was a misrepresentation of the law.
Judge John Stevens sustained the objection.
During the incident, a nearby home was also hit by a stray bullet. The bullet entered a bedroom, but the homeowners were not present.
Detectives followed multiple leads and were later able to identify Jones as one of the four suspects involved in the shooting. Police obtained a warrant and arrested Jones on January 10, 2020 in connection with the shooting.
Judge John Stevens is presiding over the trial
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