A robbery and shooting in north Shreveport just over a year ago ended in Caddo District Court Tuesday, August 6, 2019, with an eight-man, four woman jury finding a Shreveport man guilty on two of three charges.
The jury’s three hours of deliberations ended with only a kidnapping charge declined, but the guilty verdicts on robbery and aggravated battery mean James Anthony Santos, 38, faces up to 17 years when he returns to District Judge Craig Marcotte’s courtroom for sentencing September 16, 2019.
On July 20, 2018, Santos went to an address on Titwell Road in northern Shreveport, and with an unknown accomplice robbed his victim of a cell phone, money and the victim’s car keys. They then bound the victim’s wrists with duct tape and zip ties. The victim managed to break free and escape, with Santos then shooting at the victim five times. One of the bullets grazed the victim’s head. Santos was charged with armed robbery, attempted second-degree kidnapping and attempted second-degree murder. The trial began with jury selection Monday, August 5, 2019, and continued the following day with four witnesses, including the victim.
Prosecutors in the case, docket No. 360245, were Assistant District Attorneys William Gaskins and Mallory Richard. Santos represented himself but had as standby counsel public defenders Michael Bowers and Michelle Andrepont.