Slashing of federal agent's throat draws 20 years
HOUSTON — Jose Garcia Jr., 31, of Mercedes, received the 20-year maximum sentence for attempted murder, for slashing the throat of a deputy U.S. marshal, the office of U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno announced Friday.
Garcia was a federal prisoner when he slashed the throat of a deputy marshal with a razor blade on May 22, 2009, at the federal courthouse in McAllen.
Garcia was indicted in June 2009 for attempted murder of a federal agent in the Houston division. He pleaded guilty in December 2009.
At Friday’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein sentenced Garcia to 20 years in federal prison to be followed by a three year-term of supervised release. Garcia will serve the sentence consecutive to a 50-year state prison sentence he already is serving, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to the release, Garcia was in a holding cell in the federal courthouse awaiting a hearing before U.S. District Judge Randy Crane in McAllen for the possible revocation of supervised release imposed as part of a 2000 federal robbery conviction prompted by Garcia’s recent state conviction for murder and 50
The deputy marshal, whose name was not listed, required nine stitches, the news release stated.
FBI agents arrived at the scene and recovered the razor blade used by Garcia. FBI agents then interviewed Garcia, who told them he felt a "vibe" when he saw the deputy marshal earlier in the day. Before going in the courtroom, Garcia said he found a razor blade on the floor by the urinal in the holding cell located on the first floor of the federal courthouse building. Garcia admitted he hid the razor blade in his upper lip then later moved it to his hand where he had it when the cell door opened. As he walked closer to the deputy marshal, Garcia admitted he wanted to "get him right there," and was trying to kill him. Garcia told FBI agents he felt "relaxed" after the attack.
Garcia, has been in federal custody and will remain in custody to serve this sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McIntyre. Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn Cook represented the government at today’s hearing.
-year sentence. While being led into Crane’s courtroom, Garcia lunged at the deputy marshal and slashed his throat with a razor blade. He slashed at the deputy marshal’s throat several other times as court officials subdued him.
