On November 21, 2024, 22-year-old Esteban Hernandez was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for manufacturing and delivering between 4 and 200 grams of a controlled substance. The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office announced the sentence after a thorough investigation and successful prosecution.
The case stemmed from an incident on May 24, 2024, when Hernandez was tracked by Tarrant County Sheriff's Office officers after it was reported he had three outstanding felony warrants and was threatening to cut off his GPS ankle monitor. Working in coordination with Tarrant County Pre-Trial GPS officers, deputies located Hernandez's vehicle and discovered marijuana, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia inside.
Hernandez was also facing multiple pending felony cases, including one for the aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14. His conviction was the result of diligent work by the Fort Worth, Haltom City, and Grand Prairie Police Departments, as well as the Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant District Attorneys Michael Ferry and Ashlea Deener, along with support from DA investigators and Victim Coordinator Laura Medina, successfully prosecuted the case.