CALDWELL MAN RECEIVES LIFE SENTENCE FOR THEFT FROM ELDERLY
A Caldwell man was sentenced last week to life in prison after being found guilty of stealing from the elderly.
(Brazos Co. Jail)
56-year-old Lonnie Birt Donaldson Sr. received a life sentence from a Brazos County jury for Theft from an Elderly Individual with Two or More Previous Convictions. His punishment was enhanced based off of a number of past offenses dating back to 2000.
According to the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office, Donaldson went to the home of an elderly Bryan resident in August 2024 and offered to fix his roof for a total of $2,300 in cash. Prosecutors say Donaldson took the money and was never seen by the victim again.
Investigators determined that Donaldson’s roofing business did not actually exist, as it had no bank account and no other customers. During the trial, they linked Donaldson to multiple past crimes across Burleson, Brazos and Milam counties.
Donaldson’s previous criminal history includes convictions for Theft, Theft from an Elderly Person, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – Theft, and Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance.
The jury took under 25 minutes to find Donaldson guilty and less than an hour to hand down the life sentence.