A Gatesville man was sentenced to five years in prison for punching a special needs teen.
Robert Helbert pled guilty to a Coryell County Jury on Tuesday for the offense of Injury to a Disabled Individual, a 3rd degree felony.
The jury delivered its verdict around 3:20 p.m after half a day of testimony and hearing closing arguments.
According to District Attorney Dustin Boyd, “the investigation of Helbert, 21...began on Jan. 2, 2016 with the Gatesville Police Department. Helbert was accused of punching a 17-year-old autistic boy. The punch resulted in a hairline fracture of the victim’s eye and severe bruising.”
The jury also learned Helbert had been on juvenile probation for Aggravated Robbery, and upon violating probation, he had been placed at the Texas Youth Commission.
As an adult, Helbert committed “numerous misdemeanors and served time in a state jail for Burglary of a Building”.
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