GALVESTON – On June 22, 2018, a Galveston County jury found defendant Eddie Randle guilty of the felony offense of Aggravated Assault. The jury made an affirmative finding that a deadly weapon was used in this offense. The defendant was faced with one prior felony conviction, which was used to enhance his punishment in this case to a range of minimum 5 years in prison and a maximum 99 years or life. The defendant elected to have the jury decide punishment. After the punishment phase was concluded on June 22, 2018, the jury sentenced the defendant to 9 years in prison.

On Monday, June 18, 2018, Randle’s jury trial began in the 405th District Court. According to trial testimony, on May 21, 2017, Officer Christopher Condy of the City of Galveston Police Department was dispatched to the scene of an assault. Officer Condy testified that when he arrived at the scene, he located a single victim slumped over in the driver seat of a vehicle, covered in blood, with apparent stab wounds.

Jurors learned through eyewitness testimony that defendant Randle had gotten into an argument with the victim earlier at a Texas City nightclub. Later that morning, the victim and witnesses went to Randle’s home in Galveston to retrieve a vehicle and clothing that witnesses had left at the home prior to going to the nightclub. Witnesses testified that when they arrived at the home, they noticed the tires to the car had been punctured, they then asked Randle for their clothing he told them to leave. The jury learned that the victim and witnesses turned to go, and as they were leaving, the defendant produced a knife and stabbed the victim multiple times. Jurors learned that the 44 year-old victim suffered multiple stab wounds to the chest as a result of the assault and was transported, by paramedics, from the scene to the University of Texas Medical Branch.

The defendant argued that he acted in self-defense when he stabbed the victim. In a statement taken by Detective Wayne Moody of the City of Galveston Police Department, the defendant stated he stabbed the victim inside of his home because he had been attacked there by the victim. Officer Condy testified that the evidence at the scene did not support the story the defendant had told investigators. Officer Condy explained to the jury that the evidence at the scene supported the version of events told to them by the victim and other witnesses to the assault.

The defendant elected to have the jury decide his punishment. In the punishment phase of trial, the jury learned the defendant had been convicted of aggravated assault in 2009 and served time in prison. In addition, prosecutors presented evidence showing that the defendant committed other felony and misdemeanor offences including resisting arrest, assault causing bodily injury, attempted burglary of a motor vehicle, and attempted forgery. After deliberation, the jury sentenced the defendant to 9 years in prison for Aggravated Assault. The defendant will be required to serve one half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Randle was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Tiffany Myers and Adam Poole in the 405th District Court, with Judge Michelle Slaughter presiding. The investigations were conducted by the City of Galveston Police Department.

Mugshots for active inmates are available at:  http://p2c.co.galveston.tx.us/jailinmates.aspx

Public Records can be obtained at: http://publicaccess.co.galveston.tx.us/default.aspx

Ross Hill

Assistant Criminal District Attorney

Galveston County Criminal District Attorney’s Office