Executive Summary
- Daquan Ruffin was sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated robbery after a plea deal.
- Prosecutors dismissed a capital murder charge in exchange for Ruffin’s testimony against the shooter.
- The August 2023 incident involved a botched carjacking that resulted in two deaths.
- The victim’s mother provided an emotional impact statement, expressing dissatisfaction with the sentence.
A San Antonio man initially charged with capital murder in connection with a deadly 2023 carjacking has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following a plea agreement. Daquan Ruffin accepted the sentence for aggravated robbery after prosecutors dismissed the murder charge linked to the death of Ricardo De La Fuente.
According to statements made in Bexar County court, the incident occurred in August 2023 when Ruffin and two accomplices allegedly confronted De La Fuente and a friend to steal their vehicle. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office reported that the encounter escalated into a shootout, resulting in the death of De La Fuente and one of Ruffin’s associates.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors noted that Ruffin signed a cooperation agreement to testify against the alleged shooter, Anthony Watson Jr. This testimony reportedly assisted in securing a 45-year prison sentence for Watson in December. Additionally, an unrelated charge of assault on a public servant filed against Ruffin in January was dismissed under the terms of the agreement.
During the sentencing hearing, the victim’s mother, Vanessa Trevino, addressed the court, expressing the profound impact of her son’s loss. “Y’all came and took his life over a car, but not only did you take his life, you took mine, too,” Trevino stated, noting that while she was aware of the plea offer, she felt justice remained elusive.
Judicial Strategy and Sentencing
The resolution of this case highlights the strategic use of plea bargaining by prosecutors to secure convictions against primary aggressors in complex multi-defendant capital cases. By leveraging Ruffin’s cooperation to ensure a substantial sentence for the shooter, the state prioritized the penalization of the lethal actor while securing a significant, though reduced, penalty for the accomplice. While this procedural approach clears court dockets and guarantees convictions, it often leaves surviving family members grappling with the disparity between the loss of life and the negotiated punitive outcome. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law regarding any dismissed charges or pending legal matters.
