March 14, 2023
(McKinney, Texas) – Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that Jose Aguilar, 46, of Plano, Texas, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for Aggravated Robbery after a jury found him guilty. “Brutal acts of violence, especially those with permanent consequences for the victim, deserve permanent consequences for the perpetrator as well. We are thankful that the victim survived his life-altering injuries and was brave enough to later come testify in court. While the lives of the victim and his family will never be the same, Collin County is a safer place with Aguilar behind bars,” stated Willis after sentencing.
On the evening of August 27, 2021, Plano police were dispatched to a stabbing at a storage unit complex. Surveillance video showed that Aguilar approached the victim with a knife and demanded the victim give him his work trailer. Aguilar then stabbed the victim several times in the neck and head. As the victim lay bleeding in the parking lot, Aguilar searched the victim’s open storage unit and vehicle.
After finding money in the victim’s vehicle, video evidence showed that Aguilar ran over the victim with his vehicle, then came back and ran over him again, and then finally fled the scene. The victim was found shortly after by another storage unit tenant who called 911. Miraculously, the victim was able to recount the events to police. He was rushed to Medical City Plano where surgeons removed the tip of Aguilar’s knife from the back of his neck. As for Aguilar, he was apprehended after crashing into multiple cars at a nearby intersection.
The victim, who because of the attack is now completely paralyzed in both legs and almost completely paralyzed in both arms, was brought to the courthouse and testified at trial.
The case was investigated by Plano Police Detective Mary Jung. Plano Detectives Billy Henricks and Catherine Foreman and Officer Richard Longarello testified at trial.
The jury found Aguilar guilty of Aggravated Robbery and assessed punishment at 50 years in prison. Judge Tom Nowak presided over the case.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Charles Brazell and Alex Haynes prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigators Ryan Harvey and Mike Smith, and Victim Assistance Coordinator Ruth Ruiz.
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