Mario Martin was placed on deferred probation despite being two-time convicted violent felon. Dallas’ police chief wants answers. Dallas’ DA says it was his fault.
DALLAS — A violent, convicted felon who police say should have been behind bars, facing life in prison was instead working at the State Fair of Texas this year at one of its vendors.
Mario Martin is a habitual criminal. He’s been to prison twice. His first brush with the criminal justice system was for burglary and evading arrest in 2011. After his release from that first offense, he was released — only to then be arrested again in 2017 for robbing a gas station. That time, he got eight years in prison, but once again was released on parole.
While on parole this time, he robbed a Family Dollar store in 2023. According to an arrest affidavit, Martin “was wearing a mask and gloves and armed with a handgun and a hammer [when] he told everyone in the store not to move and took money from the cash register and safe.”
Because it was his third violent crime, Martin faced life in prison following his arrest. Instead, the prosecutor in the case offered him five years of deferred probation. So, he was set free again.
“I need to speak for my detectives who don’t have a voice, and the work that goes in to solve these cases,” Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said. “For an individual to not be held accountable, particularly with his history, is incredibly frustrating for [my] men and women.”
Even more frustrating: Dallas Police say that, while Martin was on probation this most recent go around, he and another man robbed two Family Dollar stores in South Dallas on October 8. According to police, Martin allegedly robbed the stores while wearing a State Fair of Texas- T-shirt. He later told police he had the short because he was working at the fair this year, selling corn dogs.
“This individual was given more opportunities than the victims,” Garcia said. “We need more accountability in all areas of the criminal justice system.”
The State Fair of Texas’ head of security told WFAA that vendors are required to run background checks on their seasonal hires, so it’s unclear how Martin was working in one of the booths.
As for Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot, he acknowledges fault in Martin slipping through the cracks.
“In hindsight, it is clear the situation could have been managed better, and I take responsibility as the leader of this office,” Creuzot said. “While we strive for perfection, with 60,000 cases passing through our system each year, mistakes can happen. But we are committed to learning from them.”
Police said they hope the lesson learned is that, when repeat offenders Martin get put behind bars, it’s for good.