Tony Earls found guilty of manslaughter

HOUSTON — Tony Earls has been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez in 2022.

Judge Danilo Lacayo read the verdict in court on Tuesday afternoon after about an hour of jury deliberations.

Closing arguments were held on Tuesday morning. Once both the prosecution and defense were done, the jury was excused to begin deliberating. During deliberations, the jury asked only one question regarding a video.

Arlene Alvarez was shot in the head on Valentine’s Day in 2022. Earls told investigators he fired his gun after being robbed at an ATM in southeast Houston. Prosecutors said he fired recklessly into the Alvarez family’s truck, killing Arlene, while the suspect was already gone.

Earls is facing a punishment ranging from probation to 20 years in prison. The sentencing phase is expected to begin on Wednesday morning.

On Monday, the prosecution used an outside expert witness to demonstrate through example videos how Earls fired his gun. Prosecutors argued that it showed reckless handling since Earls fired about 10 shots, one of which hit Arlene in the head.

A Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office crime scene investigator testified that bullets fired at a 90-degree angle are the most accurate. After reviewing surveillance videos, she said the way Earls fired was not the most accurate method. She also testified that the robbery suspect did not shoot at all.

Prosecutors rested their case around 3 p.m. Shortly after, the defense called its first witness, Dr. Sasha Lambert. Lambert explained how stress can affect a person’s actions, saying Earls was likely in fight-or-flight mode during the robbery.

The defense also called Andrew Taravella, a former Houston police officer and crime scene analyst. Taravella testified that sounds in surveillance video could have been gunfire from a weapon other than Earls’ pistol.

On Friday, jurors were shown multiple surveillance videos that prosecutors fought to include in the trial. At least 10 gunshots could be heard in the footage.

Crime scene expert Owen Bledsoe testified that Arlene’s father, Armando Alvarez, initially told investigators both Earls and the robbery suspect fired shots. On the stand, Alvarez admitted that he was wrong in his initial statement.

Other testimony included crime scene investigator Sarah Lambert, who documented bullet fragments and damage to the Alvarez truck, and firearms expert Melissa Nally, who testified that firearms and ammunition almost always emit a visible muzzle flash.

KHOU 11 legal analyst Carmen Roe said Friday’s testimony was significant. “Today, there is the most compelling evidence we are going to see from this trial,” Roe explained. “There is no mistake, they planted it on a Friday so they (jurors) can consider it over the weekend.”

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