FORT WORTH -- A Fort Worth teen who robbed nearly 20 high school students at gunpoint at a Halloween costume party was sentenced Friday to 99 years in prison.
A jury in state District Judge Mike Thomas' court deliberated two hours before handing Pedro Dominguez, 19, the maximum sentence for 11 counts of aggravated robbery and one count of burglary stemming from the Oct. 30, 2010, home invasion that also left one parent brutally beaten.Dominguez will be eligible for parole in 30 years."It does bring some relief that justice was done," said Charles Marshall, who was pistol-whipped by Dominguez and another youth when he arrived to pick up his son. He watched from the courtroom as the sentence was handed down.During deliberations, jurors asked to see the photos of Marshall's bloodied face and head and one of the guns that was used to bludgeon him."I hate looking at the pictures," Marshall said, "not just for me, but that my son and the other kids had to go through this."Dominguez's mother, who had sat throughout the trial, was tearful after the sentencing."My son is not a bad kid," she said quietly.Witnesses testified that the party in Pantego was a "wholesome" event for the Arlington school district's gymnastics team, with students dressed as ladybugs, bumblebees and SpongeBobs sitting outside listening to music and bobbing for apples. They had moved indoors to watch a movie when three youths in dark clothes and masks entered.The youths refused to identify themselves and, after being pressed to remove their masks, they pulled guns on the group. Holding the students and host parents at gunpoint, they stole wallets, cellphones, iPods and car keys.The gunmen then returned to Dominguez's apartment for a party of their own.They laughed, drank and re-enacted the crime for their friends. They even took pictures of themselves in full regalia with guns drawn.Prosecutors Brock Groom and Page Simpson urged jurors to give Dominguez the maximum sentence."Keep this community safe," Simpson said during closing arguments. "Keep him off the streets for as long as possible."Defense attorney David Bays asked jurors to consider a 20-year sentence, which he said would punish Dominguez but still give him a chance at rehabilitation."Your verdict should give him some hope," he said.Prosecutors presented evidence that Dominguez had a long string of brushes with the law. As a juvenile, he had been caught carrying cocaine, shooting at cars with a BB gun, burglarizing cars and houses, and bringing to school the gun used in the Halloween robberies. Marshall's blood was still on it.Two men accused of being accomplices are awaiting trial. David Castro, 20, testified for the prosecution, saying he stayed in the car because he wasn't dressed properly for the robbery.He testified that he does not have a plea deal but hopes for leniency in exchange for his testimony. Jonathan Diaz, 19, of Fort Worth is also awaiting trial.Another gunman, Pablo Garcia, 19, has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.He testified for the defense, saying that he was involved in the robberies but that Dominguez and Diaz were not. He said Castro, Castro's cousin and a youth known only as "Speed" committed the robberies. Prosecutors said Garcia was trying to take the fall for his friends.A juvenile was also sentenced to 10 years in state juvenile facilities for his role in the crime.Dianna Hunt, 817-390-7084Twitter: @DiannaHuntHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
