SAN ANTONIO – Convicted last month in an April armed robbery, Melvin McNeil, 39, was in court this week for formal sentencing.
McNeil is also facing charges in 10 other robberies.
As part of the punishment phase of his trial last month, a victim in another alleged robbery had just identified him as the man who tried to rob her last December.
McNeil shouted out, "I know her! I was one of her customers!"
He was referring to Norma Sotello, who was on the witness stand.
Before he could continue, 290th District Court Judge Melissa Skinner admonished McNeil.
"Stop now, stop now," the judge said. "You can sit there and listen to this quietly or we can do other things to make sure that you do."
Sotello testified that McNeil had come into her North side insurance company office and pointed a gun at her as he demanded money.
"He kept saying, 'Give me your (expletive) money! Give me the money,'" Sotello said.
She said she was terrified.
"I kept saying, 'Please don't hurt me. I have a little girl and she really needs me,'" Sotello sobbed.
As he left the courtroom, McNeil shouted, "The cops told her that I robbed her. That's how she identified me. I've known her since 2009 and I've been a regular customer over there."
McNeil will be back in court next week for sentencing in his October trial for the April robbery.
He is considered a habitual criminal and is facing a punishment range from 25 years to life in prison.
He has not been indicted in the Sotello robbery and is awaiting trial in the other robberys for which he has been charged.