Juan Garcia. (Source: Angelina County Jail.)LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
A Dallas man arrested nine years after a shooting in Angelina County will go to prison for 180 days before serving a probation sentence, according to court records.
Juan Carlos Garcia, 33, pleaded guilty in February to a charge of aggravated assault.
According to prosecuting attorney Katrina Carswell, Garcia was originally charged in 2002 with aggravated assault. But because law enforcement has not been able to track him down since the incident occurred, the statute of limitations expired after three years.
A new charge of attempted murder, issued last year, carries no statute of limitations.
Carswell said the charge stems from Garcia shooting someone in the eyes with a gun.
Prosecutors allowed Garcia to plead guilty in February to the lesser charge.
In District Judge Paul White's courtroom on Monday, Garcia received a 10-year prison sentence, probated for 10 years. He will go to prison for 180 day, then be considered for shock probation.
Shock probation is a method used to put offenders in prison, then "shock" them into good behavior and giving them a probation sentence.
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