AUSTIN CO. JURY SENTENCES HABITUAL OFFENDER TO LIFE IN PRISON

  

An Austin County man with a history of offenses was sentenced last week to life in prison.

62-year-old Darryl Glenn Phillips, who lived near New Ulm, was found guilty by a jury on Thursday, March 7^th of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon before District Judge Jeff Steinhauser.  According to the Austin County District Attorney’s Office, Phillips was charged with cutting the throat of a man and severely injuring him in Industry on April 23, 2019. 

Phillips received a maximum sentence of life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and was fined $10,000.  Prosecutors said Phillips had committed five felonies since 1987, with most of his convictions coming from Harris County.

During the trial, jurors heard from several eyewitnesses who testified that they saw Phillips commit the act.  Phillips’ defense attorney argued that the assault occurred in self-defense.

The jury deliberated for an hour and 40 minutes before returning a guilty verdict.

During punishment, prosecutors presented evidence that Phillips was a habitual offender who had previously been sentenced to 25 years in prison in 1992 for Delivery of a Controlled Substance and committed another felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance while on parole in 1997. 

Additionally, the jury heard that Phillips had committed misdemeanor offenses of Theft, Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon and Possession of Marijuana.  Jurors were also told that Phillips committed a felony offense of Possession of a Controlled Substance while awaiting trial for his Aggravated Assault charge.

Jurors deliberated for two hours before handing down a life sentence.  Phillips will not be eligible for parole consideration until 2053, when he is 92 years old. 

First Assistant District Attorney Brandy Robinson presented the State’s case with District Attorney Travis Koehn, Assistant District Attorney Ben Nystrom and legal assistant Lisa Tobola.  Phillips was represented by defense attorney Stephen Longoria.