Allen Man Convicted of Kidnapping And Assault

Joseph Julian Guerra was sentenced to 60 years in prison by a Collin County jury for the abduction and savage beating of Margaret Dodd in his Allen, TX home in July, 2012. Guerra was also fined $10,000.

Guerra was charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault.

During the trial evidence was presented that showed Guerra had agreed to act as Dodd’s pimp. After a money dispute, Guerra was accused of taping up Dodd’s hands and feet, and covering her mouth with tape to keep her quiet while he beat her in his Allen home.

According to Dodd’s attorney, Cynthia Walker, Guerra beat Dodd for several hours by hitting her with his fists, kicking her, hitting her with a skillet, hitting her with a wrench, choking her and carving his nickname “Ace” into her thigh with a knife.

Dodd managed to escape for Guerra only after he had fallen asleep. Walker presented photographs of Dodd that showed evidence of the severe beating. Dodd’s injuries included a broken nose, a lost tooth and several cuts on her legs where Guerra had used a knife to carve his nickname.

Defense attorney Glenn Adams argued that this was not an aggravated kidnapping because Dodd went to Guerra’s home willingly and said doctors who treated Dodd said her injuries were not life threatening.

Guerra has had previous convictions for alcohol and drug related crimes and was actually on probation when he attacked and beat Margaret Dodd. Defense attorney Adam requested a sentence of 15 years in prison, which is the minimum term for Guerra charges.

But prosecuting attorneys asked that Guerra be put away for a long time because he is a bad person who did inhumane things.

Guerra had to be removed from the courtroom after he interrupted Margaret Dodd’s victim impact statement on several occasions.