by | Published
COMAL COUNTY, Texas — A Spring Branch man has been sentenced to decades in prison after a jury convicted him in a violent assault involving a firearm and multiple victims, according to prosecutors.
Jason Aaron Vancleave, 47, was sentenced April 23 to 40 years in prison for each of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and 20 years for each of two counts of assault family violence with a previous conviction. All sentences will run concurrently. Visiting Judge Dan Mills presided over the trial.
The charges stem from a Jan. 19, 2024 incident at Vineyard View RV Park, where deputies with the Comal County Sheriff's Office responded to an open 911 call and found two injured victims.
According to investigators, a woman who was in a dating relationship with Vancleave suffered visible facial injuries. She told deputies Vancleave, who appeared intoxicated, became verbally aggressive before striking her in the jaw with the buttstock of a black powder rifle.
A second victim, a man who attempted to intervene, sustained a laceration above his eye after Vancleave threw a pair of pliers at him. Authorities said the victim was bleeding heavily and was later transported to University Hospital San Antonio for treatment.
Deputies reported Vancleave smelled strongly of alcohol and became combative after being detained. During transport, he repeatedly struck his head against the patrol vehicle and kicked the interior, prompting deputies to place a padded helmet on him to prevent injury.
Investigators recovered both the wooden rifle buttstock and the bloodied pliers used in the assault, which were introduced as evidence during trial.
Prosecutors presented extensive evidence, including an open 911 call recording, photographs of injuries, medical records, body camera footage and recorded jail calls between Vancleave and the female victim.
During the punishment phase, jurors heard about Vancleave’s prior criminal history, which included violent and firearm-related offenses such as deadly conduct, assault family violence with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Assistant District Attorney Pawandeep Singh argued for a lengthy sentence, telling jurors, “Crime comes where it’s welcome and stays where it’s treated well.”
Additional evidence showed the rifle contained a hidden compartment holding three .50-caliber hollow-point slugs.
The case was prosecuted by Singh and Assistant District Attorney Britton Youngblood, with support from investigators and victim assistance staff.
