A Laredo man got 5 years in prison. He stabbed a man at a party just before Christmas in 2023. Alfonso Herrera Jr. pleaded guilty. He admitted to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. That means he hurt someone with a weapon on purpose. A judge gave him the sentence on July 17.

Herrera's case was one of several cases settled in Laredo courts on July 17, court records show. His case stands out. It started at a party that turned violent. Laredo sits in Webb County, on the border with Mexico.

Laredo police got a call at about 6 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2023. A big party had just ended. People started fighting outside. During the fight, someone stabbed a 29-year-old man. Police said he was hurt bad but stable at the time.

Police said Herrera lived right across the street from the party house. Police believe Herrera stabbed the man during the fight.

A 14-year-old was also at the party. Police said the teen fired a gun into the air. Officers picked up the teen. He was charged with firing a gun inside city limits. The teen was taken to the Webb County Youth Village.

Herrera and the teen both ran before police got there. Cops caught up with Herrera later that same morning, at about 9:13 a.m.

Police said Herrera later took detectives to a spot. He had hidden the clothes he wore during the stabbing. Investigators found the clothes there.

Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a serious charge under Texas law. A regular assault charge is less serious. Using a weapon and causing bad harm can turn it into aggravated assault. That charge can mean a much longer prison term, 2 to 20 years. It can also mean a fine of up to $10,000.

Herrera faced more charges too. He was also charged with tampering with evidence. Texas law treats that as its own felony. It means trying to hide or destroy proof so police cannot use it in court. Herrera faced three counts of that charge. Each count could add 2 to 10 more years in prison, plus a fine of up to $10,000.

This case shows how fast a fight at a party can turn deadly once a knife or a gun comes out. It also shows something else. A 14-year-old boy ended up in the juvenile system that same night. His case is separate from the adult court system.

Prosecutors and Herrera's side worked out a plea deal. A plea deal is when someone agrees to plead guilty. In return, prosecutors often drop some of the other charges. Plea deals help courts move cases faster than a full trial would. They also give the parties involved a final outcome without a long trial.

As part of the deal in this case, prosecutors dropped the three tampering charges. In turn, Herrera pleaded guilty to the assault charge. He also got credit for time he had already spent in jail. That means the days he sat in jail while the case moved through court count toward his 5-year sentence.

Herrera was sentenced in the 49th District Court in Laredo. That court handles serious felony cases from across Webb County. Judge Jose A. Lopez oversaw the case. The plea deal and sentence are now final. The criminal case against Herrera is closed.

It is not clear from court records what happened to the teen's case. Juvenile court records are usually sealed. They are not open to the public. That is true in most Texas counties, not just Webb County.