SEALY MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON ON MULTIPLE CHARGES
(Austin Co. Jail)
An Austin County jury took only 90 minutes to convict a Sealy man of seven felony offenses after a week-long trial in Bellville.
After a punishment hearing, Joseph Mesa was sentenced to five life sentences for Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Kidnapping, and two Burglary of a Habitation convictions.
District Court Judge Jeff Steinhauser, who presided over the case, also handed down a 20-year sentence for Deadly Conduct, and a 10-year sentence for Theft of a Firearm.
According to Austin County District Attorney Brandy Robinson, those were the maximum prison terms allowed by law in each of Mesa’s seven cases.
The State presented 29 witnesses and dozens of exhibits including photographs, videos, and physical evidence throughout the course of the trial.
The cases occurred during Mesa’s nine-hour crime spree back on April 9, 2024.
During that time, Mesa kidnapped a woman at gunpoint that was driving him to court on a separate charge, struck the woman with the gun when she tried to escape, broke into a home and stole a pistol, and robbed another homeowner at gunpoint.
Bellville Defense Attorney Calvin Garvie argued a case mistaken identity for some of the cases and self-defense in others.
The jury rejected those defenses and convicted Mesa on all seven charges.
During his sentencing hearing, evidence was presented that Mesa damaged Austin County Jail property while in custody, committed an assault against another jail inmate, and made threats against public officials while awaiting trial.
The defense presented expert psychological testimony and testimony from Mesa’s family members, who described Mesa’s childhood hardships.
When pronouncing the maximum sentence, Judge Steinhauser expressed surprise that no one, including Mesa himself, was killed during the crime spree.
District Attorney Robinson said Mesa will not be eligible for parole until 2053, when he is 65 years old. Even then, she feels that the severity and number of his convictions should weigh heavily against his release.