It took a jury less than 10 minutes Tuesday to return a verdict in the case of a Conroe man accused of the 2012 kidnapping of a local convenience store clerk.
Jose Antonio Garcia, 52, was found guilty of Aggravated Kidnapping in the 9th District Court of Judge Kelly Case. The sentencing phase begins Wednesday morning.
The attack occurred around 3:30 a.m. December 9, 2012, when Garcia entered the Valero Gas Station at 14587 FM 1485, near Old Houston Road and demanded the female clerk leave with him. She was the only one working, and the area is usually quiet, with little traffic at that time of the morning. Garcia threatened her with a knife and forced her outside, pulling her by her hair. He forced her into his pickup, but she escaped from the truck before Garcia could drive away. The victim ran back into the store, locking herself in the restroom and calling for help.
He was arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Jail February 19, 2013. His bond was set at $200,000 and an ICE (Immigration) hold was placed on him because he was found to be in the United States illegally.
Additional details will be posted with sentencing information…
