A College Station man who killed someone attempting to steal his marijuana is protected under Texas state law.
But 19 year old Robert Reese, who shot 28 year old Christopher Reeves in the back during an armed robbery at Reese’s apartment in early November, is headed to prison.
Brazos County District Attorney Bill Turner says Reese entered a plea agreement where he was convicted of hiding his gun and marijuana before calling police.
Reese will serve at least six months in prison. Turner says Reese’s conduct will determine whether he finishes a five year sentence on probation.
Turner says state allows deadly force during a robbery or a theft at night, and both conditions applied in this case when Reeves threatened Reese with a can of mace to steal marijuana.
Turner says he “wanted to make it clear that when you set yourself up in a business that’s going to require deadly force, an illegal enterprise, that you may be justified under the law in the homicide. But you’re not going to have a friend in the courthouse. And if there are any other crimes that are involved we want them to factor in that you could end up in the penitentiary once you start engaging in the drug enterprise.”
An alleged accomplice in the robbery, 29 year old Robert Farr of College Station, remains out of jail on bond.
WTAW’s Bill Oliver visits with Bill Turner.