A Brazos County jury found 25-year-old Shemar Darnell guilty of Burglary of a Habitation on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. The jury deliberated for about 45 minutes before reaching a guilty verdict. Later that afternoon, the same jury sentenced Darnell to 12 years in state prison and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine.
The charge stems from an incident on Sept. 25, 2019, when a local resident returned home from work to find her house broken into and her televisions and jewelry missing. Police officers investigating the crime discovered that Darnell had pawned two of the stolen TVs just hours after the break-in. When questioned by a detective, Darnell admitted he was present during the break-in and had sold the stolen TVs at a pawn shop.
Although Darnell had no prior felony convictions and was legally eligible for probation, prosecutors presented additional evidence during the sentencing phase of the trial. The jury learned that Darnell had been arrested at least five times since the 2019 burglary, in addition to two offenses committed before it. Prosecutors also showed that Darnell had possessed five different firearms over time, with incidents involving stolen guns and shooting a firearm.
“Every family in Brazos County deserves to feel safe inside their own front door. Breaking into someone’s home strips away that basic peace of mind. Our community will not stand for criminals targeting our neighborhoods, and this 12-year sentence sends a clear message that home break-ins won’t be tolerated.”
— Assistant District Attorneys Kara Comte and Abby Goodman
Assistant District Attorneys Kara Comte and Abby Goodman prosecuted the case with help from Investigator Mike Johse and Victim Assistance Coordinator Melissa Carter.