County Updates
Tony Robert Barrera III, 44, of Austin, was sentenced to 60 years in prison on January 18 for possession of fentanyl with the intent to deliver. He was also charged with a 50 year sentence for possession of a firearm.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Barrera was staying at a Holiday Inn in Buda on July 19, 2022 when an officer with the San Marcos Police Department Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant for a parole violation. The officer found a black tar substance in the pocket of Barrera’s shorts that the officer said he recognized as heroin.
In his hotel room, the affidavit alleged that there were bags found with multiple different illegal substances including two different versions of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, psilocybin, marijuana and three firearms, one of which had been stolen, as well as a suppressor and multiple holsters. The affidavit said that Barrera was a known convicted felon and active parolee and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins, Barrera was indicted for POCS (Fentanyl) with intent to deliver after lab reports were received that the tested substance was 15.96 grams of fentanyl. The other indicted charges were three counts of a Felon in Possession of Firearms.
The case was investigated by detectives with the San Marcos Police Department, with the assistance of officers with the Buda Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Griffith and Elizabeth Schmidt. Following the verdict, ADA Griffith said, “We appreciate the hard work and diligence of the jury, as well as the dedicated efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in this case. Hopefully the verdict in this case resonates with anyone dealing narcotics, especially fentanyl, in Hays County and makes them reconsider their actions.”
“When I came to office, I promised serious consequences in fentanyl cases,” Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins. ”It seems that Hays County juries agree that fentanyl will not be tolerated in our county. I commend the work of SMPD and Buda PD in making our community that much safer.”