The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The son of Staci Lisenby was taken away in shackles and tears at the Orange County Courthouse Wednesday morning after he was sentenced to twenty years for the murder of his mother.

Lisenby's son, 15, of Orangefield, admitted his guilt by pleading "true" to the allegations that he intentionally and knowingly committed the murder at their home on Feb. 20, 2011. The sentence is pursuant to the "determinate sentencing" provisions of the Texas Family Code.

Under a determinate sentence, he will begin his sentence in a juvenile facility, The Texas Juvenile Department, and will remain there until he reaches 19 years old. Then he will have a hearing and be transferred to an adult prison system, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, to finish his sentence, according to information for the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Because the charge of murder is considered a "3-G" offense according to the penal code,the juvenile will have to serve half of his sentence before he is first eligible for parole.

In the courtroom of Judge Troy Johnson, the somber mood filled the room as family members told Tyler of their love and support of him.

The charges stem from an incident of a 9-1-1 call about a shooting. Deputies arrived to at their residence located at 2478 Oilla Road in Orangefield. After they arrived they found Staci Lisenby had been shot in the head. She was transported by air ambulance to a local hospital where she died. Lisenby's son, then 14 years old, was the only other person who was at the residence at the time of the shooting. He reported to police an intruder had come into the residence and shot her. The deputies along with other police canvassed the area and were unable to find any evidence of an intruder.

Over the course of the next several days investigators began speaking to neighbors in search of evidence and following all leads received or generated from the public.

Based on the facts, a search warrant was issued for the residence to seek evidence of property discarded. As a result, they found the key evidence which confirmed the shooting was not that of an intruder, according to information from the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

"This case if difficult because the family is on both sides," said Kim Hobbs, Assistant Orange County District Attorney, "There is no happy ending. This family is torn apart and they will have to pick up the pieces and try to move forward."

Photo:

The 15 year old son of Staci Lisenby was escorted by deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Office to begin his 20 year sentence for the murder of his mother on Feb. 20, 2011. Also pictured are Jeremiah Gunter, Jason Guidroz and Harry Meaux. RECORD PHOTO: Debby Schamber.