Sebastian man sentenced to 11 years in prison for armed robbery & burglary

Jose Feliciano Mata, 18, of Sebastian pled guilty in 197th State District Court on June 24 to aggravated robbery and to burglary of a home.

Mata was sentenced to serve 11 years on each of the two charges by Judge Migdalia Lopez but the sentences will be served concurrently.

He was convicted for a February 27, home invasion where the victims were robbed at gunpoint. He was also convicted of an April 19 burglary of a habitation, while the victim was present.

As the result of his plea a charge of assault pending against Mata was dismissed. Punishment range for aggravated robbery is from probation to confinement for 5 to 99 years and the punishment range for burglary of a habitation is from probation to confinement in prison from 2 to 20 years. In both instances a $10,000 fine may levied by the judge.

Mata is a suspect in a number of other Sebastian area burglaries.

Due to his age and with good behavior in prison, Mata could be released in as few as three or four years said Willacy County and District Attorney Bernard Ammerman.

Ammerman said his office will aggressively prosecute crimes involving theft and burglary and would like to thank Sheriff's Investigator Guillermo Salinas, Jr., and Raymondville Police Detective David Robles for their help on these two cases.

The cases were prosecuted by Ammerman and First Asst. County and District Attorney Scott Greenbaum.