A Bell County court in Texas heard arguments Thursday over whether to apply a deadly weapon enhancement in Caysen Allison’s sentencing.
If the court decides to impose the enhancement, it will change Allison’s punishment range. He currently faces six months to two years in state jail. However, if a deadly weapon is deemed to have been used, the charge could upgrade to a third-degree felony, resulting in a prison sentence of two to ten years, NBC 6 reports.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, a jury convicted Allison of criminally negligent homicide in April, for the 2022 stabbing death of Joe Ramirez, a classmate at Belton High School in Belton.
Allison stabbed Ramirez during a bathroom confrontation at the school, following an incident in which Allison was accused of acting inappropriately with a girl who had been dating Ramirez’s friend.
At a status hearing May 22, prosecutors and the defense argued over whether a deadly weapon enhancement should apply during sentencing. The judge said the enhancement would change the sentencing guidelines.
Prosecutors asked the judge to review case law and said state statutes support a deadly weapon finding in homicide by act. The defense said one of the cases cited did not apply because that defendant was convicted as charged, while Allison was found guilty of a lesser offense.
The judge asked prosecutors to identify where the indictment alleged the use of a deadly weapon. Prosecutors said the charge implied it through aggravated assault. The judge responded that Allison was not convicted of that charge.
Prosecutors also said the defense needed to request a definition of a deadly weapon and noted the indictment mentioned “cutting” and “stabbing.”
The defense cited Apprendi v. New Jersey, a Supreme Court ruling that requires juries—not judges—to decide any fact that could increase a defendant’s sentence beyond the statutory maximum.
In Allison’s case, the jury considered charges of murder, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Jurors returned a verdict on the least severe charge.
Defense attorneys argued the jury didn’t convict Allison on the original indictment, claiming the lesser charge didn’t include stabbing or cutting. They said that omission prevents the court from applying a deadly weapon enhancement.
The judge said the state should have asked the jury to specify whether a deadly weapon was used. He will now review arguments from both sides.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 16. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photos: Joe Ramirez/Handout; Caysen Allison/Benton County PD]
