Lucky Turtle bandits go to prison

Two of three men accused of taking part in the armed holdup of a game parlor in downtown Cotulla have been sentenced to prison terms of 15 and 20 years by a district judge.

Jonathan Longoria Menchaca, 34 at the time, and Mark Anthony Ramirez, 26, both of San Antonio, were arrested by officers of several law enforcement agencies on October 26, 2022, after a high-speed pursuit through three South Texas counties ended in a crash on the outskirts of San Antonio. The two men were immediately identified as having been involved in an armed robbery earlier that day at the Lucky Turtle game parlor in Cotulla.

District Judge Jennifer Dillingham presided over the hearing Tuesday, June 4, at which Menchaca was sentenced to serve 20 years and Ramirez 15 years for their part in the holdup. Menchaca had been identified as the gunman in the crime.

Both men had reached a sentencing agreement with the state of Texas, represented by prosecutor Kenny Lam of the 81st Judicial District, upon their guilty plea before their court appearance last week.

A third suspect in the case, Cotulla resident Robert Rogelio Martinez, 40 at the time, was arrested in Dilley and likewise charged in connection with the holdup.

Reports from officers investigating the crime indicated that the three men had driven to the Dollar General store on Main Street in Cotulla and shoplifted a number of items, including sweatshirts and caps that they would use moments later to disguise their features while committing the armed robbery.

The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office sent deputies to the Lucky Turtle game parlor at Market and Goft streets to learn that the men had driven to the business in a red Dodge Charger sedan and brandished a firearm when demanding cash from an employee at the business.

Security camera footage from a number of sites in Cotulla supported witness testimony in identifying the vehicle and providing descriptions of the men involved in the crimes, according to La Salle County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Homar Olivarez.

The getaway attempt after the holdup ended when Menchaca and Ramirez climbed out of the wrecked Dodge and tried to conceal themselves by mingling with workers at a construction site. They were ultimately found hiding in a van at the jobsite and were wearing construction workers’ vests, according to officers at the scene.

The car used in the armed robbery was listed as belonging to Martinez, who is believed to have been the getaway driver in Cotulla but was not in the Dodge when Menchaca and Ramirez crashed it in Bexar County.

The handgun believed to have been used in the armed robbery was also recovered and was identified as having earlier been reported stolen in San Antonio.

Each suspect was charged with two counts of first-degree felony aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized criminal activity, also a first-degree felony.

Menchaca and Ramirez have remained behind bars since their arrest nearly 600 days ago.

Martinez posted bond after his arrest in 2022 and has since been jailed in connection with other crimes. He faces felony charges in La Salle County for narcotics possession and in Wilson County for assault. One of his arrests took place in Cotulla earlier this year after he was found in possession of crystal methamphetamine during a court appearance as part of the pre-trial process for his charges related to the Lucky Turtle holdup. He had been listed as wanted on a number of warrants.

Martinez has since posted bond while his case is pending.