Judge Boyd accepts guilty plea, sentences David Escobedo to probated term in DWI‑3 case

Judge Stephanie Boyd accepted a guilty plea and imposed a probated sentence on David Escobedo after the defendant stipulated to the state's exhibits in a DWI‑third case. Defense counsel Elena Gaston confirmed she had reviewed discovery and the plea terms with Escobedo, and the court struck an erroneous middle-name reference to "Moses" from the indictment before proceeding.

The judge told Escobedo the offense is a third‑degree felony, with a statutory range the court described as "anywhere from 2 to 10 years in the prison and up to a $10,000 fine." The parties agreed to a plea assessment recommending four years’ imprisonment to be assessed, but Judge Boyd suspended that sentence and placed Escobedo on probation for three years. The court ordered the $1,000 fine to be probated.

Court-imposed conditions included 150 hours of community-service restitution, a TAP (treatment assessment and placement) evaluation with follow‑through on recommendations, parenting classes (completion to satisfy 50 hours of the community service), and an ignition‑interlock device for half the probation term. The judge gave the defendant the choice of serving 10 days in the Bexar County Jail or 30 days on GPS monitoring limited to employment; the court chose the GPS option and waived GPS fees. The court also ordered 30 sober‑support meetings (with each meeting credited as one hour toward community service), monthly field visits for six months, proof of employment within 45 days, and barred employment in home‑health work or jobs involving minors.

Defense requested mitigation on the basis of indigency and ongoing work obligations. Gaston asked the court to "consider probating the fine or part of the fine and also, reducing community supervision fee," and the judge accommodated probationary sentencing while allowing travel for work with probation approval.

Judge Boyd admonished the defendant and the courtroom about the dangers of drinking and driving, urging people to use a designated driver or ride service. "Just get a designated driver or either take an Uber or a Lyft," the judge told the court.

The court also reviewed the trial‑court certification of appeal rights with Escobedo and advised him of the collateral consequence that, as a felony convictee, he is prohibited from owning or possessing weapons or ammunition. With the sentence and conditions explained on the record, the court set administrative matters and recalled other cases as needed.

What happens next: Escobedo will report to probation and must comply with the conditions the court set; the court waived GPS fees and allowed limited work travel pending probation approval.