“Teen Criminal Begged for Mercy — Then the Judge Destroyed His Future Live in Court”

Added: 2026-05-29

[00:00:00]Payton Fontenette, Mr. Rojas, it's a sentencing.

[00:00:04]Good morning. Are you Kayden Kayden Fontenette?

[00:00:08]And this is 25 DCCR 1759.

[00:00:12]>> Put it home.

[00:00:13]I see no way out of the situation that he's in, so he goes and decides to rob some money. Rob a store and get some money.

[00:00:19]Um did the wrong thing. What and if his story in the PSI is to be believed for what I believe is the right reason. He's trying to help his mom and at home trying to pay some bills, keep the lights on.

[00:00:30]Certainly there are better ways to go about doing that. Uh and I hope that the time in jail has taught Mr. Fontenette that um So we done.

[00:00:40]Youthful offenders, probation, let's give everybody an opportunity. And things have just changed in such an incredibly dangerous way with young people doing what I just saw you do on that screen.

[00:00:56]Um I cannot imagine the fear that that person had that was working in that store. That he now has just trying to go to work, make a living and go home. And he has three people come in and not just grab a little quick something and run out, but terrorize him for quite some time.

[00:01:24]Pulling him around, yanking him around, putting guns in his face, all three of you.

[00:01:31]Institutional division of Going to sentence you to a term of 25 years in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Corrections. You will receive credit on that sentence for any time that you've been in custody that the gives you the right to receive.

[00:01:59]I'm handing you the trial court certification. This was not an agreement. You have some rights to appeal. I have also handed you a written admonishment regarding your ineligibility to possess a firearm or ammunition. Because of the judgment entered against you, you're ineligible under Texas law to possess a firearm or ammunition. Possession of a firearm or ammunition could lead to charges against you. You can talk to Mr. Rojas about any questions you have about that. I am making an affirmative finding of a deadly weapon. Mr. Fontenot, I understand that this is harsh and I know you believe this is harsh, but I think this is necessary. I hope that you go and you make things right. You can get out of prison. You're still going to be young and you can make your life better.

[00:02:41]That's going to be up to you, okay? You can go back with the bailiff.