Posted 10:57 pm Friday, December 14, 2012
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Trinidad man gets 20 years for burglary
Staff Reports
Clinton Shelton, 25, of Trinidad, was sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Department of Corrections and a $1,000 fine after a jury in the 392nd District Court of Henderson County deliberated less than 15 minutes, according to information from the office of District Attorney Scott McKee.
Shelton was convicted of the May 2012 burglary of a home in Trinidad. The trial began Tuesday morning with testimony from the victim, who testified she was home alone when Shelton walked into her home and came towards her. Shelton only retreated after the victim's dog chased after him, she testified.
After returning with a guilty verdict, the jury heard testimony regarding Shelton's lengthy criminal history and from a second homeowner in Trinidad whose house also was burglarized in May 2012. Property stolen from her home was later found in Shelton's possession. The case was investigated by the Trinidad Police Department.
During closing arguments to the jury, Assistant District Attorney Jenny Palmer pointed out that a person's home is their sanctuary and that Shelton had violated that sanctuary, placing the victim in fear for a long time to come. Palmer also pointed out Shelton's extensive criminal history and showed pictures of Shelton's white-supremacy gang-affiliated tattoos.
First Assistant District Attorney Mark Hall credited the work of the Trinidad Police Department for apprehending Shelton and also indicated that the crime rate in Trinidad declined rapidly after Shelton was arrested and confined in the Henderson County Jail awaiting trial.
Shelton has indicated he will appeal.
