Intensive Jury Trials Scheduled at Courthouse To Overcome Case Backlog

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Navarro County prosecutors are working diligently to correct the backlog of court cases due to the COVID Shutdown of the past two years.
July kicked off with jury trials in both Navarro County felony courts, in Judge James Lagomarsino’s District Court and with County Court at Law Judge Amanda Putman.

Demetrio Cazarez – Continuous Sexual Abuse of Child

In the 13th District Court, Demetrio Cazarez was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child. Navarro County District Attorney William Thompson stated, “After a jury was selected and the trial had commenced, Mr. Cazarez reconsidered and an agreement was reached under which Mr. Cazarez plead guilty to Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.”
The case was investigated by both Corsicana Independent School District police and the Corsicana Police Department and prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Andrew Wolf and Assistant District Attorney Karen Dennison.

William Andrews – Evading Arrest or Detention With Vehicle

In the Navarro County Court at Law, William Andrews was charged with evading arrest or detention using a vehicle. The State introduced evidence that NCSO deputies attempted to stop Mr. Andrews for a parole violation warrant on June 8, 2020. Mr. Andrews led the deputies on a half-hour vehicle chase from just East of Dawson into Corsicana which ended when Mr. Andrews’ vehicle collided with a CPD vehicle on 7th Ave. between Collin Street Bakery and HEB. The defense introduced evidence that Mr. Andrews had a traumatic, abusive childhood and a long history of addiction to alcohol and methamphetamine. Court documents showed that Mr. Andrews had eight prior criminal convictions for robbery, assault, possessing a prohibited weapon, terroristic threat and retaliation which resulted in numerous jail sentences and three trips to prison. He was on parole for a 2010 robbery and retaliation committed in Corsicana. The jury returned a verdict for 37 years in TDC on Friday afternoon. The case was investigated by NCSO with assistance from CPD and prosecuted by District Attorney Will Thompson and Assistant District Attorney Sherry Shumer.
All courts in Navarro County have now resumed conducting jury trials and are setting intensive trial schedules in an effort to reduce the case backlog accumulated during the COVID pandemic.