Dagoberto Rivera-Martinez will serve at least four years in prison after pleading no contest to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for stabbing his sleeping brother at a Wilson County home in August 2024. The plea deal, finalized this week, locks in an eight-year sentence, of which Rivera-Martinez must serve at least half.
A Knife Attack While the Victim Slept
According to WOAI, Rivera-Martinez went to his brother's house on Aug. 11, 2024, and stabbed him with a knife while the man was in bed. The outlet reports the victim's injuries were not life-threatening and that he cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation. Earlier reporting from the Wilson County News described Rivera-Martinez, 43, of Floresville, as having allegedly stabbed a sleeping male in the shoulder at a residence northeast of town, adding that the victim was treated at San Antonio Military Medical Center and released.
WOAI reports that Rivera-Martinez entered a no-contest plea this past Monday and agreed to the eight-year term. Under the deal, he must serve at least half of that sentence before becoming eligible for release.
Immigration Status Adds Another Layer
Authorities said Rivera-Martinez was unlawfully in the United States at the time of the offense, and the station's report notes that immigration matters are handled by federal authorities. The district attorney's office said the felony conviction could increase penalties for a later illegal return to the country, and that Rivera-Martinez could face federal charges and increased penalties if he illegally returns after deportation. The U.S. Department of Justice's own criminal resource manual on reentry after deportation states that if a prior deportation followed an aggravated-felony conviction, the statutory maximum term of imprisonment for illegal reentry is 20 years, though the available guidance does not address how that provision would apply to Rivera-Martinez's case specifically.
Credit for the Case
The case was reported by 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis and the Wilson County Sheriff's Office in a Facebook post detailing the plea and sentence. That post credited the sheriff's office — particularly Investigator Jack Derby — for the investigation, along with Assistant District Attorney Lorena Whitney for assisting the prosecution.
A Reminder During Awareness Month
The district attorney's office is highlighting October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and used the case to note that domestic violence isn't limited to spouses or dating partners — it can also happen between siblings and other family members. The case highlights that domestic violence can affect family members beyond spouses or dating partners.
