by | Published
SAN MARCOS, Texas - A Hays County judge has sentenced a man to 40 years in prison for a murder he committed at age 15 after prosecutors said he arranged a marijuana purchase as part of a plan to rob someone.
Isaac Arispe was sentenced Aug. 24 by District Judge Sherri Tibbe following his conviction for the December 2020 murder of Christopher Trevino.
Arispe was a juvenile when Trevino was killed but was certified to stand trial as an adult.
During Arispe's trial in March, prosecutors presented evidence that he arranged to buy marijuana from Trevino's 15-year-old sister while sending messages to friends and family asking for bullets and saying he planned to rob someone.
Trevino's sister testified that Arispe met her outside her home during the early morning hours of Dec. 19, 2020.
She said Arispe pulled a gun and pointed it at her.
When Trevino ran over to help his sister, Arispe shot him once in the chest and fled, according to testimony presented at trial.
A Hays County jury convicted Arispe of murder. He chose to have Tibbe, rather than the jury, determine his punishment.
At the sentencing hearing, corrections officers and other staff testified about Arispe's conduct while in custody. Prosecutors said more than 30 incidents were documented during his three years in custody, including assaults on other inmates and instances in which he was found with dangerous contraband.
The court also heard testimony identifying Arispe as a member of a criminal street gang.
Members of Trevino's family addressed the court and described how his killing had affected them.
When imposing the 40-year sentence, Tibbe acknowledged that Arispe was 15 when he committed the murder but said the punishment also had to account for the harm caused to Trevino, his family and the community.
Arispe will serve his sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
