Guillen Gets Nine Years in Carmona Case
Clarissa Guillen received a nine-year prison sentence for aggravated robbery after testifying against David Taije Castleberry in the death of Lucio Gustavo Carmona III.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Sex Crimes
Clarissa Guillen pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and was sentenced to nine years in prison in Atascosa County. Her charge was reduced from murder by the county district attorney's office, and she testified against David Taije Castleberry, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Why it matters
The case shows how a plea agreement and cooperating testimony can shape outcomes in a deadly case involving multiple defendants. It also highlights the role of county prosecutors in deciding charges and resolving cases across Texas.
Guillen pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and must serve half of her nine-year sentence before becoming parole eligible, with credit for three years already spent in custody. Prosecutors had asked for the 20-year maximum allowed under the plea deal, and the defense presented evidence that Castleberry had trafficked her.
The players
Atascosa County District Attorney's Office
The county prosecutor's office that reduced Guillen's charge from murder to aggravated robbery and handled the prosecution of the case.
David Taije Castleberry
The defendant convicted by a jury of Lucio Gustavo Carmona III's death and sentenced to life in prison.
The details
Carmona's body was found on Tessman Road in Pleasanton on Jan. 3, 2023, and police arrested Guillen and Castleberry two days later. Guillen testified against Castleberry at his October 2024 trial, after which a jury convicted him and sentenced him to life in prison.
Timeline
Jan. 3, 2023: Carmona's body is found on Tessman Road in Pleasanton.
Jan. 5, 2023: Guillen and Castleberry are arrested.
October 2024: Castleberry goes on trial, and Guillen testifies against him.
Nov. 5, 2026: Guillen is sentenced to nine years in prison.
Legal Context
Cases in which a co-defendant receives a reduced charge in exchange for testimony are a recurring feature of Texas prosecutions, where county district attorneys decide charges and plea terms. This case follows that pattern, with Guillen's murder charge reduced to aggravated robbery before she testified against Castleberry.
Residents of Atascosa County and Pleasanton may see the outcome as a reminder of how serious crimes are charged and resolved in local courts. The case also shows how plea deals can shape sentences in criminal cases that affect neighborhoods where incidents occur.
The takeaway
Plea agreements and cooperating testimony can significantly change outcomes in multi-defendant cases, and sentencing terms often reflect both the evidence and negotiated charge reductions. Readers following similar cases can review county court records for final judgments and parole eligibility details.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Sex Crimes in Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Antonio Express-News.
