| Adam Resa Receives Forty Years |
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| This week, a nine woman, three man jury heard the case of the State of Texas vs. Adam George Resa in a criminal trail at the San Saba County Courthouse. Adam Resa stood trial for the offense of Burglary of a Habitation with Commission of Aggravated Assault. District Attorney Sam Oatman assigned First Assistant District Attorney Tom Cloudt to represent the State of Texas. Tommy Adams defended Adam Resa. Jury selection began Tuesday and after the conclusion of the evidence and arguments by the lawyers on Thursday, the jury found Mr. Resa guilty and sentenced him to serve 40 years in prison and to pay a $3000.00 fine. The evidence showed that Adam Resa, along with his brother, Daniel Resa, broke into the home of Joe and Diane Dobie. The Dobie’s residence is located in a rural area of San Saba County. On April 11, 2004, the Dobies were awakened from their sleep around midnight by the noise of the Resa brothers entering their locked residence. They heard the sound of breaking glass as the window in the back door was broken. When Mr. Dobie confronted the intruders, shots were fired at him and struck the wall next to him, breaking a nearby window and showering glass down upon him. The burglars fled, still shooting at Mr. Dobie as they ran. Mr. Dobie grabbed a rifle and returned fire, but the intruders escaped into the countryside. San Saba County Sheriff’s deputy Mike Edgemon responded to the scene and took charge of the investigation. San Saba Police Office Allen Brown assisted in a search of the area roads and located and identified Daniel Resa on a county road leading away from the Dobie’s residence. Adam Resa’s trail led into the countryside. Officials from the State Prison in Gatesville brought tracking dogs to assist in the search. Sgt. Steve Jennings and others tracked Adam Resa for about eight miles before the dogs forced him to seek refuge in a tree. Daniel Resa was tried and convicted of the same offense in late 2004 and received a sentence of 60 years in State Prison. At trial, Mr. and Mrs. Dobie testified about the terror of that night. Officer Brown and Deputy Edgemon provided information about the investigation at the scene and arresting Daniel Resa. Sgt. Jennings told the jury about tracking and apprehending Adam Resa. At punishment, fingerprint expert and Chief Criminal Investigator Henry Nolan testified about Adam Resa’s extensive criminal record. Assistant District Attorney Tom Cloudt noted the following: “District Attorney Sam Oatman insists that these types of cases be strongly prosecuted and that tough sentences be sought. The jury apparently agreed with Mr. Oatman’s view. With the forty year sentence, the jury sent a message that predators are not welcome in San Saba. The Resa’s were not San Saba residents, they just came here to commit their crime. Hopefully, other criminals looking for a victim will get the message sent by this jury - Serious criminals that come here and victimize our citizens get serious prison time!” “These are the type of crimes that have a profound impact on the victims involved. Folks want to feel safe in there homes. These cases undermine that feeling of security that we all want to have in our homes. As terrible as the incident was for the Dobie’s, we can be thankful that no one was physically injured. Alone there in the country, who knows what might have happened if the noise had not awakened them?” “The investigation and prosecution involved cooperation of law enforcement at its best. The San Saba Sheriff’s Office, San Saba Police Department, Lampasas Police Department, DPS, Mills County Sheriff’s Office, and T.D.C.J. (State Prison) were all invaluable in the District Attorney’s Office being able to successfully prosecute this case.” |
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