Judge revokes probation, sentences LeCaven Jenkins to two 24-month state-jail terms in Jefferson County

The judge in the 252nd District Court in Jefferson County revoked defendant LeCaven Jenkins’s probation and sentenced him to 24 months in state jail on each of two theft-of-a-firearm cases after finding multiple probation violations true at a revocation hearing.

The ruling followed testimony by Jenkins’s probation officer and several police witnesses, and the court’s review of jail incident reports and a pre-sentence packet. The court found most of the alleged technical and new-offense violations true and imposed concurrent state-jail terms with credit for time in custody.

Probation officer Rachel Lopez testified that Jenkins’s urine sample on Feb. 20, 2024, tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamines and THC and that he had a history of noncompliance. Lopez said Jenkins had been placed on the department’s random-testing DROP program and later sent to ISF tracks; she told the court he completed the ISF programs but continued to use drugs and missed supervision requirements. Lopez testified the office had exhausted available supervision remedies.

Groves and Beaumont police officers described an early-morning March 3, 2024, police response that began as a reported group robbery, followed by a pursuit of a red vehicle that ended with occupants fleeing on foot. Sergeant Alex Thibodeaux (identified in the record as Alex Tibodbaux) and other officers testified that identification information for Jenkins was found in a vehicle and that Jenkins was the driver who exited on the driver’s side and ran; one officer said he chased and captured the driver after a short foot pursuit.

Detectives and auto-theft investigators testified that officers recovered identification, debit cards and firearms from a vehicle connected to the incident and that Jenkins later waived rights and gave statements admitting involvement in car-hopping and thefts of property including identification items. Prosecutors also presented jail incident reports documenting repeated misconduct while Jenkins was in custody.

Two eyewitnesses who were victims in a related March 3 incident, Hunter Houston and Stacy Houston, described a group of people at their door in the early morning, shots fired and injuries to Hunter Houston; Justin Cooper testified to similar events. Those witnesses said several people acted together and that at least one person fired at the home. The state introduced testimony linking that scene to the vehicle and people later stopped by police.

Defense attorney Mister Parker told the court his client rejected a plea offer — described on the record as 20 months on the motion-to-revoke and a separate 10-year offer on an aggravated-robbery case with dismissal on a fraud count — and instead elected to proceed with the revocation hearing. Parker urged treatment as an alternative to incarceration, saying Jenkins had time in custody to reflect and had expressed a desire to be with his family.

The court stated findings that, across the two causes identified at the hearing, counts 5, 6, 7, 11, 15, 16, 19 and 20 were true; counts 8 and 17 were found not true. The judge said cause numbers 2239210 and 2239514 (motions to revoke probation) would result in guilty findings on theft-of-a-firearm counts and imposed 24-month state-jail sentences on each case, with lawful credit for time served. The judge admonished Jenkins that, because of the judgments, Texas law makes him ineligible to possess a firearm or ammunition and provided a written admonishment and a certification-of-right-to-appeal form.

The court also placed the aggravated-robbery case and the possession/possession-of-identifying-information case on an announcement docket and said they would be set for trial if not resolved.

The judge criticized Jenkins’s choices in remarks during sentencing, saying, "My only regret here truly is that I only have 2 years to give you," and characterizing Jenkins’s conduct as harming the community. Jenkins was returned to custody to begin service of the state-jail terms pending any appeal.

Votes at a glance

- Cause 2239514 (motion to revoke probation; theft of a firearm): court found multiple violations true; sentenced to 24 months state jail; credit for time served; outcome — sentence imposed.

- Cause 2239210 (motion to revoke probation; theft of a firearm): court found multiple violations true; sentenced to 24 months state jail; credit for time served; outcome — sentence imposed.

What’s next

The court ordered the related aggravated-robbery and fraudulent-possession-of-identifying-information matters placed on an announcement docket for the court; if unresolved they will be set for trial.