Jury sentences committed criminal to 60 years in prison

THE WOODLANDS, TX – At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024, Conroe Police Officers Michael Moote and Justin Webber stopped a vehicle driven by Tony Saddler. At the time of the stop, Saddler was on parole from a 12-year sentence for felony Assault Family Violence and was suspected of drug dealing.

When we find those people, we will act with the aggressiveness their behavior deserves. Saddler has learned this lesson—others should take note.” When the officers stopped Saddler, they found him with two other people, one of whom was a 17-year-old runaway girl. The officers were reasonably concerned about the relationship between the young girl and the two older men in the car. During their questioning of Saddler, the officers detected a strong odor of marijuana. When the officers asked Saddler to empty his pockets as part of a probable cause search, Saddler dropped a bag of marijuana onto the ground in front of Officer Moote. Officer Moote then arrested Saddler, and upon a further search, found three bags of crack cocaine. The amount of cocaine was approximately 3 grams, which is about 30 times the amount that a drug user would typically have in their possession. Officers also found multiple smaller bags of the type commonly used by drug dealers. Saddler was charged with possession of a controlled substance and booked into the Montgomery County Jail.

On May 5, 2025, First Assistant District Attorney Mike Holley and Assistant District Attorney Jared Kennedy presented the case to jurors. After hearing the evidence, jurors quickly returned a guilty verdict. In the punishment phase, jurors heard evidence of 11 other convictions of Saddler spanning twenty years, most of which were felonies and most of which included victims. The jury heard that Saddler had been repeatedly confined, including twice in prison. Prosecutors presented evidence that Saddler had been convicted of dealing drugs on two separate occasions, one case near a school and the other involving cocaine. Finally, prosecutors presented further evidence that Saddler had been abusive and threatening toward a court bailiff during the pendency of his trial.

Given Saddler's prior convictions, he was eligible for life in prison. Prosecutors asked the jury to sentence Saddler to sixty years to prevent his continued criminality and serve as a deterrent to others who were considering similar conduct. Again, after a short time, the jurors unanimously agreed to assess sixty years.

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Officers Michael Moote and Justin Webber for their excellent work in this case, the Conroe Police Department, and the high level of skilled law enforcement they provide to the city of Conroe and this county.

First Assistant Mike Holley said, “District Attorney Brett Ligon is committed to vigorously prosecuting violent and habitual criminals. Tony Saddler is a classic case of the latter, and his commitment to crime was more than answered by our Montgomery County jurors' commitment to keep this community safe.”

District Attorney Brett Ligon said, “I have consistently said that a small number of people commit an outsized number of criminal acts. When we find those people, we will act with the aggressiveness their behavior deserves. Saddler has learned this lesson— others should take note.”