Fernandez received Life Sentence in TDCJ

Gilbert Fernandez sentence to life in TDCJ.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, a jury trial resulted in the conviction of Gilbert Fernandez for the first degree felony offense of murder and two counts of the second degree felony offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 100th Judicial District Court at the Collingsworth County Courthouse.

Following approximately 15 minutes of deliberation in the punishment phase of the trial, the jury sentenced Fernandez to Life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division on the charge of murder as well as 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division on each of the two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the case for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Fernandez, 36 from Wellington, was arrested for the offense which took place on Nov. 22, 2019. Fernandez was originally indicted on June 26, 2020, for the first degree felony offense of murder and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The State called seven witnesses in its case in chief.

Texas Rangers Mike Smith and Ricky “Bo” Brown testified regarding their investigation into the murder of the victim, Frankie Lynn Cannon.

Pathologist, Thomas Parsons, testified as to the injuries the victim received and described the path the bullets took that ultimately ended the life of the victim.

“The jury setting the punishment at Life for a life was true justice for Frankie [Cannon].” said Inman. “We applaud the efforts of all law enforcement officers involved, including the FBI, Texas Rangers Division, and the Collingsworth County Sheriff’s Office for giving us the tools to go forward with successful prosecution against this defendant.

According to court documents, Fernandez was one of four individuals indicted on the same date in connection with the death of Cannon.