by | Published
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The United States Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a Bexar County murder conviction stemming from a 2015 fatal stabbing, marking a rare criminal case to reach and be decided by the nation’s highest court.
The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office announced the decision on February 25, 2026, confirming the Court affirmed the conviction of David Villarreal, who was found guilty in the murder of Aaron Estrada inside their shared San Antonio apartment.
A jury previously convicted Villarreal and sentenced him to 60 years in prison for the killing.
The appeal centered on Villarreal’s claim that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated after the trial judge instructed his attorneys not to discuss his testimony with him during an overnight recess while he was on the witness stand.
Texas appellate courts, including the 4th Court of Appeals and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, both ruled in favor of the State before the case advanced to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court agreed to hear the appeal, an uncommon step since most criminal cases are resolved at the state level.
Assistant District Attorney Andrew Warthen personally argued the case before all nine Supreme Court justices on October 6, 2025, a significant professional milestone and a rare opportunity for a local prosecutor.
“I am incredibly proud of the outstanding work Andrew did in presenting our case, and I am grateful that the Supreme Court saw it our way with a unanimous decision,” said Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales. “Watching one of our own stand before the highest court in the country to see justice served for our community was a moment I will never forget.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling officially leaves Villarreal’s conviction and 60-year sentence intact, bringing a decade-long legal process surrounding the 2015 homicide to a close.
