Published: October 15, 2009 09:16 pm      

Ex-PHS student pleads guilty

PALESTINE — A 19-year-old former Palestine High School student will be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to an aggravated robbery charge in a local state district court.

Jose Alfredo Rodriguez, 19, of Palestine will be sentenced by Third State District Judge Mark Calhoon on Nov. 23, according to Anderson County District Attorney Doug Lowe.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the aggravated robbery charge on Sept. 29 after a nine-woman, three-man jury had been seated to hear testimony in his trial.

Following the defendant’s guilty plea, the court ordered a pre-sentence investigation, directing the Anderson County Community Supervision & Corrections Department to provide information on Rodriguez’ background.

The first-degree felony conviction carries a punishment range of between five to 99 years or life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Since Rodriguez has no prior felony convictions, however, the court could elect to assess probation if the sentence is 10 years or less.

Rodriguez was arrested without incident on the Palestine High School campus on Sept. 18, 2008 by school resource officer Ryan Tolliver after authorities received a report that the man had allegedly threatened a 17-year-old female student with a knife in a computer class.

The female victim, who now lives in the Arlington area, testified following Rodriguez’ guilty plea, telling the court how her classmate initially threatened her with the knife when asking for money.

The victim was questioned by Anderson County assistant district attorney Scott Holden.

Less than a week after the initial threat, the victim told the court that Rodriguez again threatened her with the knife on Sept. 11, 2008 if she did not provide him with answers to a quiz.

“She gave him the answers the next week, but didn’t give him any money,” Lowe told the Herald-Press. “She didn’t have any.”

Under questioning by Holden, the victim identified a knife introduced into evidence by the state as the one she was threatened with by Rodriguez.

The folding knife had a serrated blade approximately 4 inches long, according to the state.

Following the second incident, the victim told a friend about the threats and the information ultimately made its way to school and law enforcement officials.

Rodriguez was represented by local attorney Scott Nicholson.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com