From Working As A Chef To Doing 2 Armed Robberies — Judge Wasn’t Convinced

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]Mr. Pettis, I did listen to everything that was presented to me and I understand the issues with your parents, but sometimes, you know, our actions are our actions and their consequences for it. So, uh I hope everything works out uh with your father. I hope everything works out with your your um mother. This is not the end of your life. Hopefully, when you go to prison, you will internalize, learn things, take care of any issues that you may have, and when you are released from prison, if you need rehab, there are plenty of rehab places that are free.

[00:00:32]Get into some sober support meetings and do the right thing. Okay. Court is calling 2022 CR1058 and 2022 CR10586, State of Texas versus Michael uh I'm sorry, Mike Christopher Pettis. Could I have parties announced for the record for the state?

[00:00:51]>> Daniel Espark with the state of Texas >> defense.

[00:00:53]>> Orlando for defense.

[00:00:55]>> And are you Mike uh Pettis?

[00:00:57]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:00:58]>> All right. You entered a plea of guilty in both of these cause numbers on December 16th. The court found there was sufficient evidence to find you guilty.

[00:01:06]The court deferred finding of guilt as you've applied for deferred adjudication. According to the plea bargain agreement, punishments be assessed at 10 years in the prison and the state is opposing your applications in each cause numbers. Have both parties had a chance to review the PSI report state?

[00:01:21]>> Uh, yes.

[00:01:22]>> Defense, >> I have.

[00:01:23]>> Are there any witnesses from either party?

[00:01:25]>> I have one witness.

[00:01:30]>> All right. Any objections to the PSI report state?

[00:01:33]>> No.

[00:01:33]>> Defense?

[00:01:34]>> No, just on some additions or corrections.

[00:01:36]>> All right. And what are your corrections? um in regards to um his usage at the time, it says he was not under the influence. Um speaking with him, he says that no, he he was consuming alcohol and he was under the influence of Xanax.

[00:01:51]>> Okay.

[00:01:51]>> Um additionally, it states that he was living with his um commonwealth wife at the time um that he would return to that situation. Um that is incorrect. He would be living with his parents and his his wife is here to get that.

[00:02:06]>> All right.

[00:02:07]All right, defense, call your uh witness for Virginia.

[00:02:19]>> Can you raise your right hand for me, please? Do you solemnly swear affirm the testimony you give will be the truth and nothing but the truth will help you God?

[00:02:25]>> Yes.

[00:02:26]>> All right, you can lower your hand.

[00:02:27]State your name for the record, please.

[00:02:28]>> Virginia Rodriguez.

[00:02:30]>> All right, defense.

[00:02:31]>> Yes, Judge. Virginia, how are you appointed with Mike?

[00:02:36]How long have y'all been together?

[00:02:37]>> 11 years.

[00:02:38]>> And do you all have any children together?

[00:02:40]>> Yes.

[00:02:40]>> How old is he?

[00:02:41]>> 25.

[00:02:42]>> How old are you?

[00:02:43]>> 30.

[00:02:43]>> Okay. And um y'all have four children together?

[00:02:47]>> Three children. Okay. What is What are their ages?

[00:02:51]>> 10, eight, and four.

[00:02:53]>> Okay. Now, when the time of this two charges occurred, what was going on? Was he looking with you at that time?

[00:03:02]>> No.

[00:03:03]>> What happened? Um they separated due to losing a job.

[00:03:08]>> He lost his job. What was his work history like?

[00:03:11]>> He was doing good. He was a chef at um was on the river.

[00:03:14]>> Okay. Before he lost his job.

[00:03:16]>> Okay. Is he a good worker?

[00:03:19]When he's not under the influence of substances, what did he like?

[00:03:23]>> He's a good dad. He's a good son provider.

[00:03:26]>> Okay. Um, in his home life, um, he also has, I guess, disabled parents. Is that right?

[00:03:35]>> His mom's ones and when he was out, he was helping her liber.

[00:03:41]>> Okay. Now, you said he lost his job at the time this occurred, right? Um, was he um abusing some substances?

[00:03:49]>> I believe he was on pills.

[00:03:52]>> You believe he was on pills? You're not sure exactly why. You noticed something with their business. Okay. Now, you kicked him out of the house. All right.

[00:04:00]Um, and when you kicked him out of the house, what happened?

[00:04:05]>> He was doing his own thing.

[00:04:07]>> All right. I'm sorry. You're going to need to speak up loudly so the court reporter can hear.

[00:04:10]>> He was doing his own thing.

[00:04:11]>> Okay. When you say he was doing his own thing, did he kind of spiral downhill?

[00:04:15]>> Yeah.

[00:04:16]>> And describe that to me.

[00:04:22]>> Okay. Um, and so when you found out that this happened, how did you react?

[00:04:28]>> I was in shock because it's not out of his character.

[00:04:31]>> It's It's out of his character to do that.

[00:04:33]>> Okay.

[00:04:35]>> You were surprised?

[00:04:36]>> Yes.

[00:04:36]>> Did you expect him to do something like that?

[00:04:38]>> No.

[00:04:39]>> Okay. Um, has he ever been to the penitentiary before?

[00:04:43]>> No.

[00:04:45]>> Um, if he were to be granted probation, you think he would be successful in completing that?

[00:04:51]>> Yes. Why is it >> responsibilities with kids? His mom.

[00:04:55]>> We had responsibilities before this, right?

[00:04:58]>> Yes.

[00:04:58]>> What's going to be different?

[00:05:02]>> Has a newborn.

[00:05:04]>> His mom has not her health is not as good as it was.

[00:05:08]>> Do you believe that this has been an eyeop?

[00:05:10]>> Yes.

[00:05:11]>> Do you believe that he um would benefit from some type of substance he should?

[00:05:16]>> Yes, he will.

[00:05:17]>> Is he motivated to do that?

[00:05:19]>> Yes.

[00:05:20]the conversations with her.

[00:05:22]>> So, he's motivated for health. Okay.

[00:05:25]>> Um, now again, if he were to be released on probation, he would not be living with you.

[00:05:31]>> No, >> he would be living with who?

[00:05:32]>> His parents.

[00:05:33]>> Okay. And and his parents are his mother and his stepfather. Correct.

[00:05:36]>> Correct.

[00:05:37]>> And um they're both alien.

[00:05:39]>> Yes.

[00:05:40]>> And the father has ler disease. Yes.

[00:05:42]>> Okay. So, he would be providing for both of them.

[00:05:47]>> Do you live nearby?

[00:05:48]>> I do. And so would you be able to offer him support?

[00:05:51]>> Yes.

[00:05:51]>> Make sure he's on path.

[00:05:53]>> Yes.

[00:05:55]>> Pass the witness.

[00:05:56]>> State.

[00:05:58]>> No question.

[00:06:00]>> All right. I have a question. Are you the same person who's the complainant in the um assault family violence case or No.

[00:06:08]>> Who's the complainant in that case?

[00:06:10]>> I'm not aware that was a case. I believe it was dismissed. Uh >> no. I'm talking about the one what I'm looking at on his history.

[00:06:19]Uh, I'm talking about uh the one where he received um probation for 2016. Were you with him in 2016?

[00:06:31]>> Speaker.

[00:06:32]>> Yeah.

[00:06:32]>> Are you the person who was the complainant in this assault bodily injury marriage case?

[00:06:39]And then uh in 2020 there's a violation of bond and protective order. I show that it was dismissed convicted of other. Was that related to you as well?

[00:06:49]>> I think so.

[00:06:50]>> All right. Any other questions?

[00:06:53]>> No, J.

[00:06:56]>> Anything else?

[00:06:57]>> Uh, the only other thing is there was an assault family second offense that was back in a rare was that you the complaintant?

[00:07:04]>> Yes.

[00:07:06]>> No further questions on the >> All right. Thank you.

[00:07:11]Any other witnesses from either side?

[00:07:13]All right. Mr. Uh credit, you can second this.

[00:07:17]>> All right, the court will hear argument.

[00:07:19]>> Uh judge, um both of these cases are very serious. It's two aggravator robberies that occurred I believe on the same day pretty much back to back victims and for their life affected both of them greatly for PSI. who doesn't ever explain that they experience anxiety now that it's how they are at work and it's an experience that they've never had before. We understand that there may be substance abuse issues here but at the same time uh the defendant who is action to put several members of the community seeing different je >> all right defense.

[00:07:57]>> Yes, judge. So we're asking that he be placed on deferred adjudication. He would be subject to the full range of punishment 5 to 999. He's not been in tenitenture before. I believe this is an eye openener. Believe that also substance abuse treatment would be appropriate and that would continue his his incarceration which he has been in custody since this offense. Um you know at the time that the suspense was committed he was under the influence of Xanax and had been consuming alcohol. I believe that this opportunity would be good for society and that it would allow him to show the court and the world that he's able to be a good productive member of society and if not on the first violation judge you would have the ability to sentences.

[00:08:42]>> All right Mr. Pettis is there anything you wish to say?

[00:08:47]>> All right. The court will deny your application in each cause number. The court will find you guilty in each cause number. In each cause number the court will sentence you to 10 years in the prison. There's affirmative finding of deadly weapon in each cause number.

[00:08:58]Court will give you credit for any time served. Each case is to run concurrently and the court will take in consideration 2022 CR7825.

[00:09:09]Uh did you review with your attorney the document entitled trial court certification of defendants rights to appeal in each of these clause numbers?

[00:09:15]And did you sign it? Because this is plea bargaining agreement. Because I followed your plea bargain agreement and because you waved your right to appeal, you do not have the court's permission to appeal. Do you understand? Excuse me.

[00:09:26]>> All right, we can go off the record. Mr. Pettis, I did listen to everything that was presented to me and I understand the issues with your parents, but sometimes, you know, our actions are our actions and their consequences for it. So, uh I hope everything works out uh with your father. I hope everything works out with your your um mother. This is not the end of your life. Hopefully, when you go to prison, you will internalize, learn things, take care of any issues that you may have, and when you are released from prison, if you need rehab, there are plenty of rehab places that are free.

[00:10:00]Get into some sober support meetings and do the right thing. Okay. All right.

[00:10:04]Thank you. Good luck to you.

[00:10:06]>> I'm sorry, Mr. Pettis. I want to do a victim impact statement.

[00:10:10]>> This is by No.

[00:10:14]He said after exper experiencing this horrifying event I was unable to sleep properly and get and got angry so easily with my family members. It scared me if any stranger came close to me. The initial days were very difficult for me and my family members. One of them stayed with me all the time. In addition while sleeping I suddenly woke up and was unable to breathe. Then I sat for a while to reflect myself and assure myself that I was at home and everything was fine. However, controlling anxiety is not as easy as it seems. I always have thoughts of what if I were robbed and someone shot me this time on the spot. Who will take care of my family? I tried so hard not to think about it, but I can't help it. At work, whenever the door opens, I feel nervous and my anxiety increases.

[00:10:57]>> Thank you.

[00:10:58]>> The courtroom fell silent as the victims of Michael Christopher Pettis finally revealed the fear that still haunted them long after the robberies ended.

[00:11:08]What began as a plea for probation quickly turned into a devastating reminder of how violent crimes can leave permanent emotional scars. Pettis' family begged the judge to give him another chance, describing a man destroyed by Xanax addiction, alcohol abuse, and personal collapse after losing his job. His wife insisted the robberies were completely out of character and argued he could still become a productive member of society through treatment and supervision. But prosecutors painted a far darker picture. Victims terrified for their lives. Anxiety that never disappeared and a deadly weapon used during back-to-back aggravated robberies. Then came the victim impact statement that changed the entire atmosphere of the courtroom. By the end, the judge made it clear that addiction could explain actions, but it could not erase consequences before sentencing Pettis to 10 years in prison.