Charles Duffield was given a reduced jail sentence of eight years after an agreement was struck in October 2024 for his involvement in a high-speed collision that seriously injured two Bexar County Precinct 2 deputy constables. Deputies Leticia Martinez and Alfred Alcatar were in Austin, Texas, directing traffic in a construction zone close to Runberg Lane and Highway 183 when the incident happened.
Duffield was escaping at an estimated speed of 110 to 120 miles per hour when his Honda Civic collided with a Hyundai Santa Fe, veering out of control and colliding with the deputies. Martinez suffered serious injuries, including fractures to her right leg and left femur, while Alcatar suffered a crushed foot. Originally charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and two counts of intoxication assault on a peace officer, Duffield eventually entered a guilty plea to one count of aggravated assault on a public servant as part of the plea deal, and the other charges were later dropped.
Precinct 2 Constable Leticia Vasquez told KSAT that the department was disappointed with the case’s outcome, which is representative of a system that struggles to strike a balance between justice and punishment. In a statement that FOX 7 Austin was able to receive, Sgt. Alfred Alcantar bemoaned the short sentence of Duffield, stating, “He’s only going to do eight years.” Martinez’s future is tarnished by a “lifetime sentence of pain and surgery,” but he’ll most likely be released before four and a half and return to living a regular life.
Sgt. Alcantar went on to describe the event’s lasting trauma, saying, “You know, I’m still traumatized. “But now it’s like, every time I feel like a truck or a car coming near me or my car feels just like panic, you know like I’m going to get hit, and I just close my eyes,” he told FOX 7 Austin. “I’m still doing the same kind of work I was doing when I got hit.” The road to recovery for Deputy Martinez is still difficult; the tissue lost from her severely smashed legs is being replaced with muscles from her thigh and calf.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply