Judge Boyd accepts deferred-adjudication plea, orders conditions for Juan Carlos Ramos in collision case

Judge Stephanie Boyd of the 187th District Court accepted a plea agreement and deferred adjudication in the case of State of Texas v. Juan Carlos Ramos, a charge described in court as "collision involving injury."

Under the court’s disposition, Ramos received four years of deferred adjudication with conditions that include regular reporting (by Zoom or in person), random urinalysis testing, proof of employment within 30 days, a ban on working as a home health-care provider or in positions involving minors, monthly field visits for three months, substance-evaluation requirements, and other specified obligations. The judge also ordered restitution if owed to the named complainant and specified community-service and educational alternatives.

The sentence is significant because deferred adjudication allows the court to defer a formal conviction while imposing supervision and conditions; if the defendant violates those conditions or if the deferred adjudication is revoked, the court may impose the underlying statutory maximum sentence for the offense. The judge reviewed statutory admonishments in open court, including that the charged offense carried a potential sentence of up to five years in prison or up to one year in county jail and a fine up to $5,000 if the case reached final adjudication.

The plea colloquy established that Ramos knowingly and voluntarily waived rights including a jury trial and confrontation of witnesses and that he had consulted with counsel. Ramos told the court he wanted to join the military; the judge said she would consider early termination of supervision to allow military service provided the required paperwork and restitution conditions were satisfied. "If you sign the paperwork and you're going to the military ... and if it is true that Mister Lohman has been paid all of the restitution, if there's no objection, I would terminate your probation and allow you to go to the military," Judge Boyd said from the bench.

The court set specific conditions of supervision in open court. The judge pronounced a four-year term of deferred adjudication and ordered: regular reporting, regular random urine analyses, restitution to the complainant (Steven Loman) if any, proof of employment within 30 days, no employment as a home-health-care provider or in positions involving minors, monthly field visits for three months, a TAP evaluation (substance treatment assessment) out of custody, completion of 20 sober meetings in 20 days, 120 hours of community service (which may be satisfied by completing a GED, further education, trade school or military service), completion of an aggressive-driving course with proof of completion, and other routine probation conditions.

Defense counsel presented mitigating materials and urged consideration of Ramos' lack of prior arrests and steps he has taken; Ramos addressed the court and described an interest in enlisting. The state indicated no objection to early termination of supervision for verified military enlistment provided restitution is satisfied.

The court advised Ramos of reporting requirements and testing expectations and said probation staff and the court will monitor compliance; the judge noted the court may revisit terms if probation issues arise.