Suspect found guilty, sentenced in 2022 death of off-duty Harris County deputy

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - A man has been found guilty of capital murder for the 2022 shooting death of a Harris County deputy.

Guilty verdict in Harris County deputy's death

A jury read their guilty verdict on Friday afternoon for Joshua Stewart, who was charged in the death of Deputy Darren Almendarez.

The court then sentenced Stewart to life without parole.

Off-duty deputy killed

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Off-duty Harris County deputy shot and killed outside grocery store

Harris County Deputy Darren Almendarez, 51, was shot and killed in the parking lot of a grocery store on Thursday night.

The backstory:

Stewart was one of three people charged with Dep. Almendarez's death. The deputy was off-duty in March 2022 when the shooting happened. 

He and his wife were leaving a grocery store when he saw three people, including Stewart, trying to steal his truck's catalytic converter. Officials said there was a Nissan backed up to the deputy's truck and two males were under his vehicle.

When Almendarez approached the vehicles, the suspects shot at him. The deputy was able to fire back, hitting at least two of the suspects.

Almendarez was taken to HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, where he later died. Stewart was one of two wounded suspects who arrived at the same hospital.

ORIGINAL REPORTING: Harris County off-duty deputy killed in grocery store parking lot

What's next:

Trials for two other capital murder suspects, Fedarius Clark and Frederick Tardy, are expected to begin later this year, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Deputy Darren Almendarez Act

PREVIOUS: Deputy Almendarez's widow speaks with FOX 26 after Texas senate pass law to combat catalytic converter thefts

It's been a year since Harris County Deputy Darren Almendarez was gunned down by criminals in the act of stealing his truck's catalytic converter. A day after lawmakers in the Texas senate passed "Get Tough" legislation, the deputy's widow spoke exclusively to FOX 26.

Big picture view:

About a year after Dep. Almendarez's death, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law that increases the penalty for catalytic convertor thefts.

The law went into effect in July 2023.

Read the entirety of the Deputy Darren Almendarez Act by clicking here.

MORE: Deputy Darren Almendarez Act becomes law