2010-07-18 19:08:35 UTC
Palacios was convicted of the murders of German and Erika Clouet on Wednesday, and the same jury sentenced him to 99 years in prison Friday afternoon after hearing two days of testimony about his many brushes with the law.
He was already serving a 30-year federal sentence for dealing drugs. The sentences will be served consecutively. He'll finish out his term in a federal lockup for his involvement with the Mexican Gulf cartel before heading to a Texas prison for the murders.
"He had 14 opportunities for second chances," Andres Clouet, German Clouet's father, said, referring to the number of crimes with which Palacios has been charged since 2003. "No one is responsible for those 99 years, not me, not the jury, no one but him."
After Judge John Creuzot read the jury's decision, the bailiff escorted Palacios to a side exit. It was then that he turned to his right to see his tearful family and gave them a wink and consoling smile.
His wife and mother declined to comment, but both said in testimony Thursday that Palacios had become a changed man since being imprisoned on the drug charges. He has a young wife and a 2-year-old son.
Palacios never took the stand in his own defense.
On Labor Day 2008, a sheriff's deputy pulled Palacios over for driving recklessly on North Central Expressway. Deputy Scott Selby approached the Chevy Tahoe and demanded that Palacios get out of the vehicle. After Selby stepped back, Palacios sped away and turned his lights off.
Palacios ran a red light and crashed into the Clouets' Toyota Scion at the intersection of North Central and Mockingbird Lane. His Tahoe was sent airborne and fell on the hood of an SMU student's SUV. All five freshmen in the vehicle were injured, as were Palacios and his passenger.
He tested positive for marijuana after the crash and his blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit.
At the time of the wreck, Palacios was wanted on four outstanding warrants for drug offenses and driving while intoxicated. Those charges are pending, prosecutors said in their closing arguments Friday.
Mirta Clouet said the end to her son German's life could have been avoided if laws were harsher on drunken driving.
"If they don't fix the justice system these things will keep happening," the mother said in Spanish.
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