ABILENE, Texas — Residents of Taylor County gathered last Friday to select 12 jurors for the upcoming court case involving an Abilene man charged with murder and multiple counts of aggravated assault. The accused, 24-year-old Arthur Jesse Gallegoz, faces allegations that he fatally shot 35-year-old Paul John Delacruz and injured two women on February 1, 2022. The trial, which starts on Monday, will be held in the 350th District Court.
Gallegoz has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him. The law upholds the principle that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
During jury selection, a wide pool of 100 potential jurors was initially summoned, but meticulous questioning by both prosecution and defense attorneys narrowed this number to a final panel consisting of seven women and five men, in addition to a male alternate juror.
Taylor County’s Chief Prosecutor Dan Joiner provided jurors with a foundation of legal context pertaining to the charges and what is required of them in understanding and deliberating on the crime.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Gallegos could face between five to 99 years in prison, or possibly life, for the death of Delacruz. Additionally, each charge of second-degree aggravated assault carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years related to the harms incurred by the surviving victims.
Joiner emphasized the prosecutorial obligation to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to counter the presumption of innocence.
The discussion touched on possible defense strategies that might surface during trial, with notions of self-defense and sudden passion anticipated to be key points of debate. Defense attorney J. Eric Nickols of Fort Worth probed prospective jurors during the selection process, asking them to express their level of agreement with specific statements regarding the use of deadly force in defense of others.
One challenging statement presented to the jury candidates encapsulated the dilemma: “A person should not be allowed to use deadly force to protect against someone they believe is about to attack someone else with deadly force.”
Nickols encouraged the jurors to adhere to their personal convictions when deciding the fate of his client. According to court documents, the trial has faced multiple delays, having been rescheduled three times since August 2023.
350th District Judge Thomas Wheeler has advised the selected jurors to prepare for a trial that could extend over the course of a week. As preparations proceed, all eyes turn to the courtroom where jury members will weigh the facts and testimonies to determine the appropriate verdict in a case that has captured the local community’s attention.