Kaufman County Sex Offender has 50-year sentence upheld for violent home invasion

KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — A state appeals court has upheld the conviction and 50-year prison sentence of Joseph Adrian Garcia, a Kaufman County man found guilty of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit murder.

A Normal Afternoon Turns Terrifying

On September 5, 2022, Mariana Mendoza was outside her Forney-area home, talking on the phone with her father. Across the street, her neighbor, Joseph Garcia, was tearing grass out of his yard and shouting to himself. Initially, she thought he might be on the phone, but soon realized he was alone and that something seemed wrong.

After going inside to make lunch while her two small children played, her daughter requested to go outside. However, Mendoza declined, still hearing Garcia yelling and muttering. Minutes later, she heard pounding at the front door as Garcia attempted to break in using a pickaxe that belonged to her husband.

Through the door, Garcia shouted, “I’m going to kill you,” and demanded that Mendoza “give back his children.” Mendoza had never met his children and did not have them. In a panic, she pushed a sofa against the door to block it, gathered her kids, and attempted to escape through the back. Upon reaching the back door, she found Garcia already there. Quickly closing the door, she heard him yelling at the neighbor next door. This provided her with the opportunity to sneak out a side door, get her children into the van, and drive to a nearby church.

Neighbors and Police Response

Kylie Thompson, who lived next door, testified in court that she heard shouting and looked out her window. She saw Garcia slamming a tool against Mendoza’s door, breaking the glass. When Thompson inquired about his actions, Garcia turned toward her and said, “They have my kids. If you say anything else, I’ll kill you, too.” Concerned for her safety, Thompson immediately called 9-1-1.

Upon arrival, police officers found Garcia lying partly inside Mendoza’s doorway. Sergeant Ryan Wagner described him as being in an “army crawl position,” with his shoulders and upper body inside the home.

The Trial

Garcia was charged with burglary of a habitation with intent to commit murder, a first-degree felony, and pleaded not guilty.

During the trial, the defense presented a private psychologist who had evaluated Garcia. The psychologist testified that Garcia had been using methamphetamine around the time of the incident and that his behavior and speech suggested he was experiencing a drug-induced psychosis. According to this testimony, Garcia’s actions were driven by paranoid delusions that his children were in danger, rather than a conscious desire to harm anyone. The psychologist argued that Garcia believed he was rescuing his children, not attempting to kill Mendoza or anyone else.

However, the State countered that regardless of his mental state, Garcia had threatened to kill Mendoza multiple times and had acted violently with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors also presented evidence of Garcia’s prior convictions, including indecency with a child by contact, failure to register as a sex offender, and assault family violence. The jury ultimately found Garcia guilty. During sentencing, they were informed of his past offenses before deciding on a sentence of 50 years in prison and a $2,500 fine.

The Appeal

Garcia subsequently appealed the verdict, claiming there was insufficient evidence to prove he intended to commit murder and arguing that his 50-year sentence was “grossly disproportionate.”

The Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas disagreed, stating that the jury could reasonably conclude that Garcia intended to kill based on his words and actions.

“We conclude there is sufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding that when appellant entered Mendoza’s house without her consent, he intended to cause the death of an individual,” the court wrote.

On the question of punishment, the justices noted that the sentence was within the legal range for a first-degree felony and emphasized that Garcia did not object when the sentence was delivered. They further added that his threats, violent conduct, and prior convictions supported the jury’s decision.

“Accordingly, we conclude the foregoing factors do not indicate gross disproportionality,” the opinion states.

Final Ruling

The appellate court affirmed Garcia’s conviction and 50-year sentence on October 9, 2025, closing the case.

“We affirm the trial court’s judgment,” Justice Nancy Kennedy wrote in conclusion.