By RAY QUIROGA
publisher@sbnewspaper.com
BROWNSVILLE—On Wednesday of last week, it took a Cameron County jury a mere three and a half hours to find Rogelio Martinez, Jr. guilty of Capital Murder after the state and defense concluded closing arguments in a trial stemming from the 2023 shooting death of a San Benito Police Lt. while he was on duty.
Martinez now returns to the courtroom on Monday, October 19, for sentencing, with life in prison or the death penalty on the table.
“This is something that has been with us each day since Lt. (Milton) Resendez was killed in the line of duty. Today’s verdict brings a sense of accountability for the loss of a dedicated police officer and beloved member of the San Benito community. Justice was served, and a strong message was sent that violence against law enforcement in this county will not be tolerated,” read a statement by San Benito Police Chief Mario Perea.
Perea went on to add, “We would also like to thank Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz and his team for their work throughout this case. We appreciate all the law enforcement agencies that have supported our officers and Lt. Resendez’s family during this difficult time. Their support has meant a great deal to our department and to Lt. Resendez’s family.”
The City of San Benito also posted a statement on its Facebook page: “The City of San Benito extends its continued support to the Resendez family and the San Benito Police Department as this case moves into the punishment phase. We will continue to honor Lt. Resendez’s service and legacy to San Benito. We will never forget Lt. Milton Resendez.”
Cameron County Pct. 4 Constable Adrian Gonzalez also provided a statement: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Missy Resendez and all the family, friends, and fellow officers of our dear brother in arms, Lt. Milton Resendez. A guilty verdict has been delivered. Justice has been served! While no verdict can bring Milton back or erase the pain of his loss, we pray this brings some measure of peace to those who love him.”
“We will never forget Milton’s courage, kindness, and commitment to serving his community. We honor his life, service, and sacrifice. Rest in peace, brother,” Gonzalez’s statement concluded.
Martinez, of Brownsville, faced a jury of his peers in a Brownsville courtroom last week, accused of firing the fatal shot that killed Resendez during a pursuit that began on South Padre Island.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, and Martinez had pleaded not guilty.
The case stems from an Oct. 17, 2023, incident that began when a Cameron County Parks officer stopped a pickup truck for allegedly speeding on the beach at South Padre Island. Authorities say the vehicle fled, prompting a pursuit through Port Isabel and into Brownsville.
Several hours later, authorities located the suspects in a second vehicle, triggering a second pursuit that eventually reached San Benito.
Resendez joined the pursuit and was struck by gunfire that entered his patrol vehicle on the driver’s side. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Martinez faced charges that included capital murder of a peace officer, along with six counts of attempted capital murder of a peace officer and two counts of evading arrest. He was 18 at the time of the shooting.
Co-defendant Rodrigo Axel Espinosa Valdez previously pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of murder.
Resendez was 54 when he died and had spent decades in law enforcement. He was the first San Benito police officer killed in the line of duty.
During the weeklong testimony, jurors heard from fellow first responders who were at the scene, a forensic pathologist, a forensic firearms analyst, and a Texas Ranger who interviewed the suspect.
The defense claimed Martinez was not the shooter, but later in the week, that claim was arguably contradicted by Martinez’s own words when jurors were shown a recorded interview conducted after he was apprehended by law enforcement in Brownsville.
In that video interview, Martinez said that although he may have wielded a weapon, he fired it indiscriminately without the intent to hit Resendez, and that his intent was to have law enforcement retreat from the chase.
The state also called Dr. Elizabeth J. Miller, the Cameron County forensic pathologist; Norma Luna, a Texas Department of Public Safety forensic firearms analyst; and Texas Ranger Patrick O’Connor.
O’Connor interviewed Martinez’s sister, who was at the scene when officers stopped Martinez and Valdez on South Padre Island. She, another woman, and the children at the scene were dropped off in Port Isabel as the initial chase intensified.
Martinez was on probation for theft at the time, prompting him to flee and fire on law enforcement. He later showed police where the firearms involved in the shooting were discarded.
O’Connor said Martinez was about 10-12 feet from Resendez’s vehicle when he fired the fatal shots.
Resendez graduated from San Benito High School in 1987 and attended Rangerville Elementary and the middle schools Miller Jordan and Berta Cabaza.
He later attended Texas Southmost College and the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council Police Academy. Before joining the SBPD, Resendez served with the Brownsville, Palm Valley, and San Benito CISD Police Departments. In total, he served more than 30 years in law enforcement.
Resendez was born on September 2, 1969, to Milton and Susana M. Resendez, both of whom predeceased him in death. He’s survived by his wife, Melissa, whom he met while attending Texas Southmost College, as well as by his siblings and numerous nieces and nephews.
According to his obituary, he and Melissa were married for 27 years when he died.