A Beaumont man who was charged with murder for allegedly killing a man on an early Easter morning in 2019 has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Tristan Ka’von Jackson, 25, on Thursday waived his right to appeal as he accepted the plea deal for second-degree felony manslaughter in the 252nd Criminal District Court. Judge Raquel West sentenced him to 15 years in a Texas Department of Justice correctional facility. The maximum sentence for such a charge is 20 years.
The deal came after more than two days of testimony where the jury heard arguments and witness testimonies and viewed various pieces of evidence that appeared to place Jackson as the shooter at the E and L Lounge and Restaurant in the 3100 block of Concord Road
Among the evidence, prosecutor Ashley Molfino presented a WatchGuard video from Beaumont Police Officer Craig Leger taken at the scene shortly after the shooting, surveillance footage at the nearby gas station and Jackson being interviewed by detectives where he admits to shooting outside the club that day.
Jackson was arrested and charged with murder shortly after that interview, which was taken the day after the shooting.
But the 40-caliber hand gun that Jefferson County Regional Crime Lab forensic scientist firearms examiner Brandy Henly suspected was used to kill Howard was never recovered and there were some questions about whether Jackson, who told police another man shot at him outside the club before he returned fire, was the only shooter.
Jackson was defended by Ryan Matuska, who told The Enterprise that he believes the question as to whether his client was the only shooter was extremely important case’s outcome on Thursday.
“We fought hard all week, and it was a trial that I believe Ms. Malfino worked very on,” Matuska said after court adjourned.
The deal came after less than an hour of cross examination of a Beaumont police detective close to the case. Shannda Howard, Howard’s widow, was called up to the witness stand and answered just two questions before the court took a break.
The break was expected to be 20 minutes, but it soon stretched to more than an hour. Just before noon, West returned and announced Jackson intended to plea guilty to the lesser manslaughter charge.
Matuska thought, after hearing the evidence that was presented through the case, that state prosecutors felt manslaughter was the “more appropriate charge” as opposed to the original murder charge. Malfino declined to comment on the outcome of the case.
Jackson and Howard’s family attended the week’s proceedings and became emotional at various points. Two of Howard’s family members provided victim impact statements — testimony that often is given by the victim, their family or other relevant individuals before the judge determines a sentence — while Jackson bowed his head.
Howard’s brother spoke directly about how the death affected his family. But he also told Jackson that the guilty plea relieved some of the family’s stress that has bubbled up since the shooting.
Family members also asked Jackson not to put anybody else through the difficult experience and to do the best he could to improve himself and be a positive role model for people around him.
Shannda Howard, Howard’s widow, was the last to speak.
Breaking down in tears, she fought to speak to Jackson.
“I forgive you …,” Shannda Howard said.
She cried harder as she told him that nothing would bring her husband back. The shooting changed her life and the lives of the pair’s children, who will never get to see their father again. But still, she echoed her brother-in-law’s request that Jackson change others’ lives for the better.
meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com
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