Jury finds Vela not guilty of alleged assault

The second of two trials in 106th District Court here this week ended much like the first – with a verdict of not guilty.

Jurors deliberated only about 15 minutes on Wednesday afternoon before finding 38-year-old Ruben Vela not guilty on a charge of aggravated assault.

The verdict came despite defense attorney Dan Simmons of Lubbock not calling a single person to testify.

Simmons sought a directed verdict from Judge Carter Schildknecht before closing arguments were presented, but that motion was denied.

Vela had been indicted in September of last year on the charge alleging he injured Victoria Martinez by cutting her with a knife on June 19, 2011.

With a jury having been chosen earlier, testimony in the case began Wednesday morning with Martinez being the first witness called to testify.

Martinez, however, reportedly testified that she cut herself.


(See complete story in printed edition of Lamesa Press-Reporter on newsstands now.)