Kyle man sentenced to 65 years for aggravated assault, family violence

A Kyle man received 65 years in prison after being found guilty on an assault charge stemming from a violent attack he made on his girlfriend in front of their children, Hays County officials announced Friday.

The jury sentence came after Andy Wayne Carty was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in a family violence case, along with additional charges including continuous family violence, assault family violence by impeding breath or circulation and violating a protective order, according to the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.

The jury issued five-year prison terms on the non-assault counts to run concurrently with the 65 years for assault. Carty must serve at least 30 years before becoming eligible for parole on the aggravated assault conviction.

"The jury’s sentence holds the offender accountable and warns that domestic violence will have serious consequences," Claudia Garcia, a prosecutor on the case, said.

Testimony during the trial described a pattern of escalating violence in early 2023, prosecutors said.

In one incident, according to the DA's office, an argument inside the home turned physical, leaving the woman with visible injuries after Carty struck her and forced her into a wall while the couple’s daughters watched. One of the children tried to call 911, but Carty took the phone before the family could reach help. They eventually retreated to the garage, locked themselves inside a vehicle and contacted police.

He was arrested for the altercation but later released on bond.

Weeks later, prosecutors said, the situation became far more dangerous. In the early morning hours, he returned to the home by climbing through a window while the family slept. Evidence presented in court showed he hid electronic devices that could be used to call for help before confronting the woman in her bedroom, where one of the children was lying beside her.

The attack lasted several minutes as the woman fought back and tried to protect the children. Jurors heard that she was choked and repeatedly struck, suffering serious injuries. The violence moved toward the front of the home as the children attempted to pull him away. Both eventually ran to a neighbor’s house, and the woman followed after breaking free.

Police and a SWAT team responded to the call, and the woman was taken for medical treatment. Authorities said he fled but was located and arrested later that morning following a brief search.

"The defendant was brought to justice because regular people did heroic things," said Jon English, another prosecutor on the case. "The victim’s strength, her children’s courage, and the Kyle Police Department’s dedication inspire us in our fight against domestic violence."

The trial ran two weeks beginning on Feb. 3, and was presided over by Judge Joe Pool.