A Bandera parolee accused of leading law-enforcement officers on a high-speed chase down Interstate 10 near Boerne last year received a one-way ticket to prison on Friday.
According to investigators, the man later cut off his ankle GPS monitor while awaiting trial.
Bryan Scott Pena, 36, was sentenced Feb. 14 to 30 years behind bars just a week shy of the one-year anniversary of the pursuit, in which speeds reached 120 mph, prosecutors said.
The case went before Judge Kirsten Cohoon of the 451st state District Court.
According to court records, Pena crashed his motorcycle, ran away and was arrested in front of a car dealership on the frontage road.
Officers said they also recovered a clear plastic bag with a white, crystal-like substance that later tested positive as methamphetamine.
According to police, the case unfolded Feb. 27, 2024, when dispatchers received a call about a motorcycle driving recklessly on Texas 46 heading toward Boerne from Bandera.
The 911 caller and a Boerne police officer saw the vehicle turn into the Home Depot parking lot on 46, then continue in the direction of the I-10 eastbound frontage road.
Kendall County sheriff's deputy Cpl. Jose Escalante joined the chase and tried to stop the black-and-orange Honda sport cycle, which evaded him.
The bike accelerated to speeds of up to 120 mph on I-10 West, according to reports.
The motorcycle driver crossed the median, then continued into oncoming traffic in the westbound lanes. The pursuit ended when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed between the main lanes of I-10 and the access road, according to reports.
After the man abandoned the bike and fled on foot, he tried to hide his helmet and gloves under vehicles at a nearby car dealership. A witness tipped off police to the man’s location, and he was detained by Boerne Cpl. Chris Padilla and Assistant Chief Cody Lackey on Old San Antonio Road.
The motorcyclist was taken to Boerne Methodist ER for a medical evaluation. After being cleared by hospital staff, he was booked into the Kendall County Detention Center that same day and charged with multiple offenses, including evading arrest with a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and reckless driving.
A subsequent review of Pena's criminal history revealed two previous prison terms, according to investigators. He was on parole for a 10-year prison sentence at the time of his latest arrest.
While out on bond, a report indicates Pena was notified of a parole warrant and cut off his ankle GPS monitor. Because he was living in Bandera, the Kendall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office contacted Bandera County law enforcement for help in locating him.
After several failed attempts to find Pena, the report said U.S. marshals discovered him hiding in a makeshift bunker beneath a bathtub in the restroom of a residence, leading to his arrest.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Derly Chapa.
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