The Pleasanton Express Online Edition

Current Weather

Complete Forecast

Lotto Results

Online Poll

Two Poteet men arrested for murder
Gerald Black, News Editor - Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Express graphic by David Wickersham

	Email story to a friend
	Printer friendly version

Atascosa County Sheriff Tommy Williams said on Monday, July 27, two Poteet men have been arrested and charged for allegedly shooting to death a Hondo couple and then setting their bodies on fire in the bed of a pickup on July 18.

A resident living in the area of Red Barn Road and Yow Road reported something burning and firefighters were called out. After the fire was extinguished, firemen discovered the partially burned bodies of a man and woman along with other debris in the truck bed.

Lt. Inv. Jake Guerra, along with other sheriff’s deputies and investigators went to the scene. They were joined at the crime scene by Texas Ranger Shane Staley.

While Lt. Guerra took the lead in the investigation, he received invaluable assistance from Ranger Staley. “Those two officers worked day and night — at least all night on two nights,” said Sheriff Williams, “and just about every officer in our department also worked on the case.”

Clues in the case which had not been destroyed in the fire led officers to Hondo in Medina County when they attempted to identify the two victims. On Monday afternoon, July 20, the woman was the first to be identified – Geri Leann Formann, age 44, of Hondo. Later in the week, dental records were used to identify the male victim — Kenneth Dale Kuykendall, age 32, also of Hondo.

Sheriff Williams said the Hondo Police Department had a warrant out on Kuykendall in a burglary case.

Arrested

After working feverishly for one week, Lt. Guerra and Ranger Staley identified two suspects and arrests were made.

Sheriff Williams identified the two men arrested as James Lopez, age 21, and Justin Perry Sharbino, age 20, both of Poteet.

The lieutenant and ranger, along with other Atascosa County officers and members of the Poteet Police Department arrested Lopez and Sharbino around 5 p.m. on Friday, July 24, and they were taken to the Atascosa County Jail in Jourdanton. Both were charged with one count each of capital murder.

Precinct 1 JP Judge Betty Caballero set bond on each of the men at one million dollars.

Sheriff Williams said Sharbino and Lopez allegedly killed the Hondo couple on Oriente Drive, just north of Pleasanton off of U.S. 281. The sheriff said it appears Formann was shot twice and Kuykendall was shot five times.

The bodies were later taken to the area on Red Barn Road and Yow Road where they were burned in the bed of a truck.

According to the sheriff, both Sharbino and Lopez have served time in the county jail and were released. Sharbino had previously been arrested on a drug charge. Lopez had been arrested on an assault charge. During the investigation sheriff’s deputies allegedly seized approximately 15 grams of cocaine with a street value of $3,000 from Lopez’s residence. Lopez was charged late Tuesday with possession of a controlled substance over 4 grams, a 2nd degree felony.

Sheriff Williams praised the efforts of all of his investigators and deputies who worked on the case, especially Lt. Guerra. He also praised the assistance provided by Ranger Staley and the Poteet Police Department.

“I do not expect any more arrests in the case,” said Chief Deputy David Soward.