Judge rips into teen’s ‘high-risk’ behavior before delivering decades-long sentence in violent robbery

A Texas justice had a fewer prime words for a teenage suspect convicted of a convulsive convenience store robbery successful which a idiosyncratic was assaulted. 

Caden Fontenette, 18, was sentenced to 25 years successful situation aft pleading blameworthy to aggravated robbery successful Jefferson County connected Tuesday, March 10, according to 12 News Now. 

The charges reportedly stem from Fontenette’s relation successful a convulsive robbery and battle of a Bulldog Express convenience store clerk successful Nederland successful October 2025, successful which Fontenette and 2 others utilized a firearm to transportation retired the holdup. 

Surveillance video captured the infinitesimal 1 fishy brandished an evident assault-style firearm and struck the clerk, officials reportedly said. Fontenette and the 2 further suspects were subsequently taken into custody the aforesaid day.

ILLINOIS BAR OWNER KILLED IN 'EXECUTION-STYLE' SHOOTING, SUSPECT WITH DECADES-LONG CRIMINAL RECORD IN CUSTODY

18-year-old Caden Fontenette pleaded blameworthy to aggravated robbery charges and was sentenced to 25 years successful situation successful  Jefferson County, Texas connected March 10, 2026.   (Jefferson County Sheriff's Office)

During Fontenette’s sentencing, Judge Raquel West admonished the teenager’s actions arsenic she handed down her ruling. 

"Mr. Fontenette, determination was a clip immoderate years agone determination wasn't truly a question. Everyone – state's attorneys – were recommending youthful offenders probation [to] springiness everybody an opportunity," West said. "Things person conscionable changed successful specified an incredibly unsafe mode with young radical doing what I conscionable saw you bash connected that screen."

The justice went connected to amusement sympathy for the convenience store clerk victimized successful the robbery, portion imploring Fontenette to bespeak connected his actions.

MURDER SUSPECT IN BALTIMORE ROBBERY SPREE WAS ON PROBATION, RECORDS SHOW

Judge Raquel West admonishes 18-year-old Caden Fontenette portion sentencing him to 25 years down bars stemming from aggravated robbery charges successful Jefferson County, Texas connected Tuesday, March 10, 2026.  (252nd District Court of Texas)

"I cannot ideate the fearfulness that idiosyncratic had that was moving successful that store," the justice added. "Just trying to spell to work, marque a surviving and spell home." 

"He has 3 radical travel successful and not conscionable drawback a speedy thing and tally out, but terrorize him for rather immoderate clip – pulling him around, yanking him around, putting guns successful his face. All 3 of you." 

Although Fontenette pleaded blameworthy to the charges, attorneys from some the defence and prosecution did not supply an agreed punishment recommendation, 12 News Now reported. The determination subsequently near Fontenette’s condemnation up to the discretion of the judge.

OHIO COURTROOM DEVOLVES INTO CHAOS AFTER SENTENCING IN DEATH OF TEEN

18-year-old Caden Fontenette listens arsenic Judge Raquel West sentences him to 25 years down bars stemming from aggravated robbery charges successful Jefferson County, Texas connected Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (252nd District Court of Texas)

During the sentencing, West turned to incidents successful which Fontenette was caught warring and "jumping people" portion down bars, describing him arsenic "high-risk." 

"So it makes it precise hard for maine to go, ‘This is idiosyncratic that's going to get retired and behave, who tin travel the rules,’ due to the fact that you can't adjacent travel the rules successful jail," West said. 

"The pre-sentence study shows you're astatine a high-risk level. That tells maine that aft they looked astatine everything, that you don't unluckily person a bully likelihood of being palmy if I were to enactment you connected probation."

EX-CON CHARGED IN CHRISTMAS DAY CVS ROBBERY THAT LEFT CLERK FATALLY STABBED

As West sentenced Fontenette to 25 years down bars, a subordinate of his household became affectional and began shouting successful the courtroom, resulting successful the idiosyncratic being escorted out. 

West went connected to picture her rationale down the seemingly "harsh" condemnation connected the 18-year-old man. 

"Mr. Fontenette, I recognize that this is harsh, and I cognize you judge that this is harsh, but I deliberation that this is necessary," West continued.

DEPORTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CAUGHT BY GPS TRACKER PLEADS GUILTY TO ROBBING 7 CONVENIENCE STORES IN CALIFORNIA

"You’re inactive going to beryllium young and you tin marque your beingness better. That’s going to beryllium up to you." 

The 25-year condemnation came aft pb authoritative Tommy Coleman reportedly implored the tribunal to support the section assemblage by keeping convulsive offenders disconnected the streets. 

"I'm preaching to the choir," Coleman said, according to 12 News Now. "Judge, supplication vigils and advisory committees, each that stuff's fine. But you justice wherever the rubber meets the road, you are that idiosyncratic that tin support the assemblage from idiosyncratic similar this defendant."

SHIRTLESS FLORIDA MAN WHO JUMPED THROUGH TACO BELL WINDOW, ROBBED IT WITH 'LARGE ROCK' SENTENCED TO 4 YEARS

"I'm not successful the wont of begging," helium continued. "On behalf of this community, I'm begging that you nonstop america this suspect to prison. The connection that needs to beryllium sent to this suspect and his ellipse of friends and anybody who would privation to beryllium similar this suspect is that if you prime up a weapon with the intent to perpetrate violence, you're going to prime up a 15-, 20-, 25-year situation sentence."

However, defence lawyer Charles Rojas reportedly asked the tribunal to see the defendant’s property and constricted transgression past erstwhile making a sentencing determination. 

"He is simply a young offender," Rojas said, according to the outlet. "I cognize the tribunal is bushed of proceeding the aforesaid communicative implicit and implicit — young guys with guns successful here. He's got a constricted transgression history, though. I judge this is his archetypal felony."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fontenette volition reportedly beryllium eligible for parole erstwhile helium serves fractional of his 25-year sentence. 

The territory attorney’s bureau and Fontenette’s defence lawyer did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital’s petition for comment.

Fox News Digital's Adriana James-Rodil contributed to this report.