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Ralph Ortega going to prison
Ortega, a suspect in a burglary in April, the May 2009 Donut Shop robbery, and the recent jail escape, plead guilty to three felonies, aggravated robbery causing serious bodily injury (a first degree felony), a burglary of a habitation (a second degree felony) and escape from custody (a third degree felony). He received 20 years in the first two causes and 10 years (the maximum) in the third with the sentences to run concurrently. “He will be eligible for parole in 10 years, however it is likely that he would serve all 20,” Kleberg County District Attorney John Hubert said. In records filed with the court, a codefendant gave a statement pointing to Ortega’s guilt in the robbery and burglary. Hubert, who negotiated the plea bargain, said that it was done with the victim’s input and approval. “The victim wanted something done. He wanted his safety back. Sending Mr. Ortega to prison will help the community to be a safer place while punishing the defendant,” he said. The codefendant’s case is still pending. “Because of the pending case, I don’t feel at liberty to go into the details of Mr. Ortega’s plea or the details of the case. When the codefendant’s case is settled, I can provide more information,” Hubert said. “This plea would not have been possible without the attention to detail in this case by the Kingsville Police Department and help from concerned members of the public,” he said. “The hours of hard work by the police to gather even the remotest tips from the public and the smallest of clues allowed us to put together a picture of the defendant’s guilt. Their immediate response and continuous efforts to gather evidence resulted in a triable case against the defendant. Even now we are considering expanding the robbery investigation,” the DA said. |
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