Man Gets Life Sentence in Drug Case

TYLER � A man is sentenced to life in a Smith County drug case. The trial of Martin Garza Jr., 25, began Monday in the 241st District Court with jury selection; the evidence phase got underway Tuesday. Garza was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine enhanced by a prior conviction for Burglary of a Habitation. Testimony showed that Garza�s arrest was the result of a traffic stop initiated by Tyler Police Department K9 Officer Steve Black on February 28th, 2013. The stop developed into a drug investigation after Garza admitted to officers that he had cocaine in the car. The Tyler Police Officers ultimately arrested Garza for Possession with Intent to Deliver after they located numerous items of evidence suggesting that Garza was involved in the illegal sale of cocaine.

According to information from the District Attorney�s office, the case was turned over to the jury late Tuesday afternoon, and jurors deliberated for about 40 minutes before returning a verdict of guilty. Punishment evidence began on Wednesday. The Jury deliberated for about an hour before returning the verdict of life in prison.