Mendez v. State
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
575 S.W.2d 36 (1979)

- Written by Sara Rhee, JD
Facts
Guadalupe Mendez (defendant) was drinking with William Robinson and Alfred Fuschak when Robinson suggested that they find and shoot someone they knew. Mendez and the others retrieved firearms and proceeded on a shooting spree at two locations. Robinson subsequently began shooting his firearm at several random houses, hitting and killing a man asleep in one of the houses. Mendez was indicted for murder. Mendez was acquitted of the murder charge but found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Mendez appealed his conviction as an accomplice, arguing that the principal perpetrator of involuntary manslaughter acts without specific intent and therefore cannot be assisted by an accomplice.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Douglas, J.)
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