by | Published
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - A Bexar County jury has sentenced a man to 35 years in prison for his role in the armed carjacking of an elderly military veteran and the dangerous events that followed, including a high-speed chase during which he fired a weapon while attempting to evade law enforcement.
23-year-old Akim Stanford Garcia was sentenced this week after being convicted for his involvement in the aggravated robbery stemming from the 2024 incident, according to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors said Garcia robbed an elderly military veteran at gunpoint before fleeing the scene in the victim's stolen vehicle.
Authorities quickly located the stolen vehicle, leading to a high-speed pursuit. During the chase, Garcia allegedly fired a handgun in an attempt to escape from pursuing officers, further escalating the danger to law enforcement and the public.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Virgil Yanta and Ana Colon of the Criminal Trial Division prosecuted the case. They were assisted by Victim Advocate Jessica Muñoz, Investigator Martin Gaskin and qualified law student intern Angelina Treviño.
District Attorney Joe Gonzales thanked the jury for its role in the case following the sentencing.
"A sincere thank you goes out to the jury for their thorough and thoughtful deliberations," Gonzales said in a statement. "This sentence reinforces our collective commitment in ensuring this type of criminal behavior will not be tolerated in our society or community."
