NEW BOSTON, Texas: A jury selected Tuesday in Bowie County is scheduled to begin hearing testimony Wednesday morning in the capital murder trial of one of four men charged in the March 2016 shooting death of a Texarkana man.
Anthony Wilson Jr., 20, faces life without the possibility of parole if found guilty of playing a role in the March 29, 2016 killing of Casey Smith. Smith, 28, was waiting for his child’s school bus when he was approached by three men who intended to rob him as a fourth waited close by in a car. Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Marshall Vallejos, 23, pleaded guilty to felony murder earlier this year and is serving a sentence of life with parole possible as part of a plea bargain. Vallejos admitted to shooting Smith in the face. Capital murder charges remain pending against Wilson, Jaquelle Rogers, 22, and Jailon Montre Gamble, 21. Rogers and Gamble are under subpoena to testify at Wilson’s trial this week.
A jury of five men and seven women was chosen to decide the case Tuesday in proceedings before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart. Wilson is represented by Texarkana attorney Derric McFarland. Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp is prosecuting. Because the state is not seeking the death penalty, Wilson faces an automatic sentence of life without parole if convicted of capital murder.
