Written by Amanda Coers – The community of Brownwood was shaken, just a week away from Christmas, with the report of a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a child. According to arrest records, the driver, Samuel Juarez Jr. was intoxicated. Booking records showed a lengthy arrest history involving alcohol.
As this information was released publicly, many wondered why Juarez had not served any serious jail time for previous convictions. One answer may be Juarez avoided incarceration through participation in the Brown County Attorney’s pre-trial diversion program.
Samuel Juarez Jr. paid at least $500 as part of the Brown County DWI Pre-Trial Diversion Program on October 20, 2006. Official records show a receipt #122269 from Juarez for case #0600095.
Acceptance into the Brown County DWI Pre-Trial Diversion Program clearly states applicants must have no prior convictions or arrestees for DWI, or Public Intoxication. Juarez was booked into the Brown County Jail for DWI in 2001 and 2002, and was also booked for Public Intoxication in 2003. Acceptance of applicants also states no fleeing from an accident scene, for which Juarez was booked into the Brown County Jail in 2003.
Juarez was accepted into the Brown County DWI Pre-Trial Diversion Program after an incident reported in March 2006.
Police records published on Tuesday March 14, 2006, detail an incident involving Juarez jumping from a moving vehicle on the Truman Harlow Overpass after a night of drinking. According to reports, Officer Brandon Arnold was dispatched to the 1500 block of Main at 1:16 a.m., and arrived to find Juarez lying in the road.
The driver of the vehicle told the officer he and Juarez had been drinking at a club and were on their way to the driver’s house when Juarez unbuckled his seat belt, started laughing and began climbing out the window. Juarez sustained a head injury and was treated in the ICU in San Angelo after being transported by helicopter.
During the 2006 incident, Juarez’s mother told police her son returned from Iraq in December and was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
Former coworkers stated Juarez was struggling with PTSD and alcoholism, and had been attempting treatment, but had relapsed a few weeks prior to the recent deadly hit-and-run incident.
Juarez also used a local transportation service on a regular basis, telling the driver it was better to pay for a ride than to pay for DWI tickets. He reportedly had not called for a ride in over a month.
On Saturday at approximately 3:15 p.m., emergency responders were dispatched to the 1600 block of 6th Street after Juarez allegedly struck 8 year old Daylan Franklin as he was playing outside his home with his younger brother.
Despite resuscitation efforts by witnesses, first responders, and the hospital medical staff, Daylan was pronounced deceased at 4:11 p.m.
As teams worked to save Daylan, Juarez reportedly fled the scene was located several blocks away.
Brownwood Police arrested him for Intoxication Manslaughter, a Second Degree Felony and Failure to Stop and Render Aid, also a Second Degree Felony.
Based on Juarez’s criminal record, Daylan’s mother, Vanessa Franklin, feels her son’s death was preventable.
“If they did their job right, my baby would be here right now,” Franklin told KTXS.
Currently Samuel Juarez Jr. is being held in the Brown County Jail in lieu of bonds totaling $300,000.
