Sone Quintero Rojas pleaded guilty to the murder four years ago of Cuero resident Bradley Allen Bowles in a De-Witt County State District Court on Jan. 21.
Bowles was a 35year-old truck driver and father who died of multiple gunshot wounds in the 600 block of West Morgan St. in Cuero March 6, 2022. Rojas was arrested after a 76-hour standoff at a San Antonio apartment complex Feb. 16, 2024.
Rojas’ murder charge was enhanced for the use of a firearm and him being declared a habitual felony offender based on prior convictions. Under the plea agreement he will serve 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, followed by a federal sentence of more than 30 years for drug trafficking.
The guilty plea closes a case with a “long and difficult history,” said Brian Michael Cromeens, 24th Judicial District Attorney. He noted the guilty plea reflects his office’s commitment to seeing violent crime prosecuted fully and lawfully, no matter how long it takes or how complex the process might be.
“From the day the crime occurred, it required coordination across agencies at both the state and federal level,” Cromeens said. “The victim’s family, especially his mother Angie Bowles, remained engaged and steadfast throughout the process. Their resolve ensured this case never drifted into the background, and their involvement was a constant reminder of what was at stake.”
Cromeens also praised Cuero Chief of Police Steven Ellis and his officers for their investigation of the murder that helped ensure Rojas’ conviction and sentencing.
“Their work, along with the DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office, the DEA and ATF, ultimately led not only to the state murder conviction but also the federal prosecution,” Cromeens said. “The defendant was prosecuted federally as part of a large drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for bringing narcotics into our communities. The murder was a tragic part of that broader criminal enterprise.”
