A Canyon Lake woman has been hit with a 25-year prison term after admitting she hid methamphetamine in her pants during a 2023 traffic stop. Angel Yvette Halliburton, 57, pleaded guilty this week to drug possession and tampering with physical evidence and received concurrent 25-year sentences on each charge.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, Halliburton pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in Penalty Group 1, more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams, as well as to tampering with physical evidence. Court records also show she admitted to two counts of bail jumping and received 25-year sentences on those counts as well, all to run at the same time.
Traffic Stop Led to the Meth Find
The case stems from a January 19, 2023 traffic stop on FM 3159 near Cranes Mill Road. Deputies reported that a narcotics-detection dog alerted during the stop, and a search followed. Officers then found a plastic bag containing about 27.85 grams of methamphetamine hidden in Halliburton's pants, according to MyCanyonLake.
Prosecutors Cite Prior Drug Convictions
Prosecutors pushed for an enhanced sentence, pointing to Halliburton's prior felony drug convictions in Atascosa and Bexar counties and the roughly five years she had already served in prison, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Those earlier cases made her eligible for a tougher punishment range under Texas repeat-offender rules.
Court Handling and Prosecution
The Comal County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation. Local reporting identifies Assistant District Attorney Cody Kent as the prosecutor on the case. Judge R. Bruce Boyer of the 22nd District Court imposed the sentences, according to court listings on Trellis.
Legal Stakes and Habitual-Offender Law
The 27.85 grams of methamphetamine fall within Penalty Group 1 under the Texas Health and Safety Code, which typically makes possession at that weight a second-degree felony that can carry a sentence of two to twenty years in prison. The state's habitual-offender statute, however, allows that punishment range to be raised to a minimum of 25 years and up to life in prison. The relevant provisions are set out in the Texas Health and Safety Code, section 481.115, and the Texas Penal Code, section 12.42.
With the sentencing now entered, the 2023 traffic stop case is formally closed at the trial-court level. Any future appeals or post-conviction filings would appear in public records for the 22nd District Court. The outcome highlights how prior convictions and bail-jumping charges can sharply increase the stakes when drug offenses are prosecuted as habitual cases.
