Guilty plea began with spate of car break-ins

BOERNE – Three teens have pleaded guilty to a burglary charge after a rash of car break-ins and a collision with a patrol car last May launched an investigation, officials said.

The case resulted in five arrests, officials said.

In the latest development, the guilty plea led to a 10-year prison sentence for Orlando Almanza, 18, on the second-degree felony; Isaac Robinson,18 was sentenced to seven years; and DeAnthony Cathey, 18, was sentenced to eight years each.

According to arrest warrants filed in the 451st state District Court, all three had previous felony convictions for the unauthorized use of a vehicle. Those charges are not related to the current court case and stem from three different counties on three different days.

However, the burglary charge that did land them in a courtroom began with a wide-ranging probe that started last spring.

According to a police report, Boerne Officer James Estrada responded to a call in the 100 block of Chisholm Drive at 3:30 a.m. May 23, 2022, after a tipster said a man with a hoodie and face mask was trying to break into his vehicle.

When Estrada pulled up, a white 2011 Mercedes E-Class drove the wrong way on the residential street, striking his patrol vehicle twice before stopping.

Estrada approached the vehicle with his weapon drawn; two youths jumped out and ran away, one aged 15 and Almanza, who was 17 at the time, according to investigators.

A 14-year-old male remained behind the wheel of the Mercedes, which had been stolen from San Antonio, according to an investigation An assault rifle lying on the passenger seat eventually led to a charge of unlicensed possession of a firearm filed against the youths.

According to court records, the officer found Cathey and Robinson in the back seat.

After backup arrived from the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, the three teenagers were led from the vehicle.

Estrada’s report noted a stolen handgun fell from Robinson’s lap as he got out of the luxury-model sedan, and a search later turned up a suspected baggie of marijuana in the adolescent driver’s possession.

Meanwhile, Almanza and the other youth were tracked down later, at 7:30 a.m., discovered on foot less than a mile away.

At the time of the five arrests, city officials noted a dozen vehicles had been broken into that day and a garage had been entered without the owner’s permission.

Officers said they recovered tools and several pistols when they arrested the youths during the incident involving the Mercedes.

A follow-up investigation showed that several unlocked vehicles in the Woods of Frederick Creek, Boerne Heights and Kendall Creek Estates were burglarized.