Clerk didn’t sell wine to minor, lawyer says
Teen later lost control of car, killing 2 friends in Atascocita crash
The attorney for a Humblearea store clerk denied allegations Tuesday that his client sold fortified wine to a minor who later was involved in a crash that killed two Atascocita teens.
The clerk, Gumaro Munoz Campos, 29, appeared in court Tuesday, a day after he was charged with one count of selling alcohol to a minor, a misdemeanor.
Witnesses told investigators that Jaggar Clayton Smith, 17, walked into the Humble Handi Stop on FM 1960 East, and without being asked for identification, bought four bottles of a forti- fied wine called
MD 20/20 from Campos, according to prosecutors.
During his court hearing, Campos’ attorney said there was video evidence to prove otherwise, although the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said it has yet to find that footage.
The store owner told investigators that multiple surveillance cameras are in the shop, but none of them are capable of taking video, said Sean Teare, of the district attorney’s vehicular crimes division.
“If there is a video, that is news to us,” Teare said. “There was nothing to indicate that there was the capability to record on site.”
Defense attorney Dennis Powell, who arrived late to the scheduled hearing time, declined to speak with reporters as he and Campos left the building.
Teens who were with Smith told investigators that only Smith walked into the shop the night of the crash, and that he was not checked for identification, Teare said.
About an hour later, after drinking at a nearby park, Smith lost control of his car and hit a tree on Timber Forest Drive, Teare said. Smith had to be removed from his car, and Salma Gomez and Chloe Robison, both 16, died.
Smith told investigators that he drank a full bottle of MD 20/ 20 before the crash. He has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter in his friends’ deaths, and if convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison.
Several friends of Smith told the investigators that the Handi Stop is known in the Atascocita area as a store people can get alcohol without being carded, especially if Campos, known as “Romeo,” is behind the counter.
If convicted, Campos could spend one year in jail, pay a $4,000 fine, and have his license suspended for up to 180 days. While on bond, Campos cannot work at an establishment that sells alcohol.
Campos’ arrest is the latest in a series of similar prosecutions meant to crack down on establishments that flout state liquor laws or serve alcohol to teens or impaired patrons.
The Humble Handi Stop has been found once before in violation of Texas liquor laws. Store owners paid a $2,400 fine in 2012 for selling alcohol to a minor, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Its license to sell alcohol was also suspended for eight days.
The TABC has conducted five minor stings at the store since the 2012 incident and found no violations, authorities said.