18-year-old Joshua Mendez was charged with aggravated robbery last week in San Antonio, TX, at a local H-E-B. Eager to quench his thirst, the young man stole an 18-pack of beer from the H-E-B store near Valley Hi Drive and Loop 410 on the morning of May 12, 2015. After walking to his truck, the store manager stopped the beer thief. When asked to present a receipt for the beer, Mendez brandished a gun and exclaimed, “This is my receipt!”
Even though this San Antonio crime story sounds like a plot for a B-movie, the consequences are very real. Mendez was arrested after crashing his truck in the 2700 block of Gunsmoke. He is also the prime suspect in a drive-by shooting in the same neighborhood and multiple robberies in Bexar County.
In the state of Texas, it’s a crime to fire a gun in a public place unless it’s in self-defense. If a gun is used in the event of crime, penalties will ensue. The state categorizes this action as “disorderly conduct” and is a Class B misdemeanor. If the event occurs in a town with over 100,000 people, the criminal action is categorized as a Class A misdemeanor. Even if you did not fire a gun in the event of a robbery, assault, or any other violent crime, the offense can graduate to an “Aggravated” level. This classification makes the offense a first-degree felony, with a potential punishment of several years to life in prison.
As you can see, gun charges result in serious consequences. Call McRae Bail Bonds at (210) 463-5561 if you find yourself behind bars in San Antonio. In the event of an arrest, our professional bail bond agents will answer your questions and help you or a loved one get the help they need.