Hays County man, 26, gets 15 years for intoxication manslaughter

A Hays County jury sentenced a 26-year-old man to 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of felony intoxication manslaughter for a 2022 crash that left a woman dead and her infant granddaughter injured.

On Thursday, jurors ordered that Royce Robison serve the 15-year sentence concurrent with a 10-year sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Robison was found guilty of both counts Wednesday.

According to the Hays County District Attorney's Office, on Dec. 2, 2022, Robison was driving nearly 20 miles per hour over the speed limit, ran a stop sign and T-boned a vehicle as it turned into a residence on Clovis Barker Road in San Marcos.

Crisanta Cazares, 58, was driving the vehicle when Robison struck the driver's side door, officials said. Cazares' son and her 8-month-old granddaughter were also in the vehicle. Cazares died and her infant granddaughter suffered a skull fracture and liver contusion as a result of the crash, officials said.

Robison admitted at the scene that he was at fault, but the district attorney's office said he later attempted to blame the crash on a sleeping passenger. However, video surveillance showed Robison exiting the driver's side of the car after the crash, resulting in a guilty verdict.

“We want to thank the jury for honoring Crisanta’s life with their sentence,” Assistant Criminal District Attorney Cassidy Story said in a statement. “We also want to express our gratitude to the family for their patient and unwavering faith in the justice system as they waited for long overdue closure. As they mourn the third anniversary of their loved one this holiday season, we hope that this sentence serves as a reminder to the community of the unjustifiable risk of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated."