The trial of Robron Lewis one of two men accused of capital murder in a fatal 2026 drug deal gone wrong, has been temporarily halted. The unexpected delay stems from the discovery of a cellphone in the victim’s vehicle that had not been previously examined. This development has raised questions about the thoroughness of the initial investigation and could significantly impact the trial’s outcome.
The incident in question occurred at a West El Paso McDonald’s where Jacal Jacob Allen was shot and killed over a dispute involving ten pounds of marijuana. Lewis and his co-defendant, Tranquil Card are both facing capital murder charges. Card is alleged to have fired the fatal shots, while Lewis is accused of participating in the robbery.
The Unexpected Discovery of Unexamined Evidence
During the trial’s evidentiary phase, prosecutors presented a cellphone recovered from the victim’s car the night of the incident. Despite being in the possession of the El Paso Police Department for the past five years, the device had not been examined. Detectives on the witness stand could not confirm who the cellphone belonged to or whether it contained crucial evidence.
Local criminal defense lawyer and legal expert Omar Carmona described the sudden introduction of unexamined evidence as highly unusual. He emphasized that capital murder cases demand the highest level of scrutiny due to the severe consequences of a conviction, which can result in either the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.
Carmona praised the prosecutors for bringing the cellphone to light, stating that it was the right thing to do to ensure a fair trial. He noted that if a conviction were to be overturned on appeal due to unexamined evidence, it would undermine the integrity of the legal process.
The Impact of the Delay on the Trial
34th District Court Judge William E. Moody described the situation as an unusual occurrence in his over 40-year career. He ordered the cellphone to be reviewed by experts and police before the trial can resume. While the goal is to resume court proceedings by the following Monday, the process of decrypting modern cellphones can be lengthy.
Carmona noted that retrieving deleted messages from encrypted apps like Instagram or WhatsApp could take significantly longer than a few days. This delay leaves several looming questions for the courtroom, including how the cellphone was discovered, when it was collected, and why it was not examined earlier.
Prosecutors were expected to rest their case on the day the cellphone was brought forward, with the trial initially slated to end the following day. The trial for Lewis has been delayed until at least the following Monday, pending the results of the cellphone’s forensic review.
The Background of the Case
The incident took place on October 28, 2026 according to court documents. Investigators allege that Lewis and Card shot and killed Allen over the disputed marijuana. The victim’s girlfriend was present in the vehicle during the shooting. After the incident, the two men abandoned their vehicle a few miles away and ran onto the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) campus, where officers found them hiding behind the curtains of the UTEP Dinner Theater.
Because this is a capital murder case, if the trial resumes and Lewis is found guilty, he faces an automatic life sentence without parole. While Lewis faces a jury this week, Tranquil Card’s jury trial is scheduled for September 21.
The discovery of the unexamined cellphone has cast a spotlight on the importance of thorough evidence collection in high-stakes criminal cases. As the legal process unfolds, the outcome of this trial could have significant implications for future capital murder cases in El Paso.
