HEMPSTEAD MAN SENTENCED TO 60 YEARS IN PRISON

  

A Hempstead man was sentenced to 60 years in prison this (Tuesday) morning in District Court.  Patrick Smith, 41 of Hempstead, was sentenced by Judge Carson Campbell after a hearing this (Tuesday) morning.

Smith pled guilty to Theft on January 10.  As part of the agreement, he admitted his guilt, but was not convicted of 14 other felony thefts and 1 felony family violence charge.  Smith was indicted in March of 2016 for Theft with 2 Prior Convictions.  That was enhanced with his criminal history to “Habitual Felony Offender” status which changes the punishment range to 25 to 99 years, or life in prison.  Smith has previously been convicted of, served prison time for, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Injury to a Child in 1997, and Robbery in 2004.

At the punishment hearing, the State introduced evidence of over a dozen prior convictions, many for felonies.  During her closing argument Assistant District Attorney Lauren Haevischer argued, “You don’t always have to be a violent person to be a danger to society.”  She then went on to point out the number of violent crimes Smith had previously committed including a conviction for shooting at a number of individuals.

Full Press Release from the DA's Office:

HABITUAL OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 60 YEARS

BRENHAM, TEXAS, January 29, 2019 – Patrick Smith, 41, of Hempstead, was sentenced by the court to 60 years in prison Tuesday morning.  Judge Carson Campbell presided over the trial in the District Court.  Assistant District Attorney Lauren Haevischer represented the State at trial, and John Winklemann, of Brenham, represented the Defendant.

Smith pled guilty to Theft on January 10, 2019.  As part of the agreement, he admitted his guilt, but was not convicted of, 14 other felony thefts and 1 felony family violence charge.  Smith was indicted on March 29, 2016 for the State Jail felony of Theft With 2 Prior Convictions.  He was enhanced with his criminal history to “Habitual Felony Offender” status which changes the punishment range to 25 to 99 years, or life in prison.  Smith has previously been convicted of, and in prison for, Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon and Injury to a Child in 1997, and Robbery in 2004.

At the punishment hearing, the State introduced evidence of over a dozen prior convictions, many for felonies.  During her closing argument Haevischer argued, “You don’t always have to be a violent person to be a danger to society.”  She then went on to point out the number of violent crimes Smith had previously committed including a conviction for shooting at a number of individuals.  Regarding the thefts, Haevischer listed a number of local businesses as victims.

After the sentence was pronounced, Haevischer echoed District Attorney Julie Renken’s recent comments about habitual offenders, “Patrick Smith has a résumé of criminal behavior that stretches back to before his 20th birthday, and the sentence reflects that.  Once again, a defendant’s criminal history has caught up to them.”