Pubdate: Sat, 15 May 1999 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 1999 Houston Chronicle Contact: http://www.chron.com/ Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html Author: Steve Brewer JURY FINDS DRUG DEALER GUILTY OF ASSAULT THAT PARALYZED HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER A drug dealer who wounded and partially paralyzed an undercover Houston police officer during a 1998 gunfight was convicted Friday of aggravated assault on a public servant. Jurors in the case of Robert Demond Lavern, 18, deliberated for 40 minutes Thursday and about four hours Friday before reaching a verdict. Prosecutors had sought a conviction on attempted capital murder. The assault charge is still a first-degree felony, which could get Lavern as much as life in prison for the Feb. 4, 1998, exchange that paralyzed Officer Vonda Higgins. Lavern was convicted in December of aggravated assault on a public servant for firing at Higgins' partner, Ralph Chaison, during the same gunfight. Sentenced to 24 years in prison on that charge, he will be eligible for parole in 12 years. That sentence was the reason prosecutors pursued the second charge against Lavern, whose new sentence could be "stacked" on the old one by state District Judge Elsa Alcala. The gunfight occurred outside a West Branch apartment complex. Chaison and Higgins, both working undercover, were buying drugs from dealers in the area. When Chaison refused Lavern's order to put a crack cocaine rock in his mouth to prove he wasn't "the law," Lavern pulled a pistol. Chaison drew and fired, wounding Lavern, who scrambled for cover. As Higgins got out of the truck to help her partner, she was shot in the neck. The round lodged near her spine. She now has only limited movement in her upper body. After the conviction, prosecutors started telling jurors about Lavern's criminal record, including several minor drug and gang-related run-ins with police as a juvenile. Testimony continues Monday, and both sides are expected to make closing arguments. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D