On August 16, 2022, a Burnet County jury convicted Gerardo Barlow, 34, of nine counts of forgery of currency. Each count of forgery is a third degree felony, and Barlow’s punishment range was enhanced to 2-20 years confinement with a prior felony conviction for possession of controlled substance. The jury deliberated approximately 20 minutes before returning guilty verdicts for all nine counts. During the punishment phase Tuesday afternoon, jurors heard evidence of Barlow’s criminal history of convictions out of Williamson County for Driving While Intoxicated, Assault Family Violence, and Unlawful Carry of a Weapon. The State also called officers from the Austin Police Department to testify about a pending Failure to Stop and Render Aid Resulting in Death charge that is currently pending in Travis County.
In May 2020, officers from the Granite Shoals Police Department observed Barlow driving a motorcycle without a license plate. Officer Ronnie Branch conducted a traffic stop and determined that the motorcycle was reported stolen out of Austin. As Officer Branch continued his investigation, he found a bundle of cash in the Barlow’s pocket that contained a stack of $20 bills and one counterfeit $100 bill. As Mr. Barlow was being arrested for the stolen motorcycle, an inventory of the bike revealed more counterfeit cash in a compartment under the seat. Officers testified that the bills were “obviously fake” based on the paper they were printed on, the lack of security features, and multiple bills containing the same serial number. Mr. Barlow was subsequently charged with forgery for each of the counterfeit bills. Captain Chris Decker told the jurors that the volume of bills as well as having the same serial number on multiple bills were indicative of Barlow printing fake currency. Before closing arguments, jurors heard from Detective Kreider of theAustin Police Department who testified only a few weeks after the incident in Burnet County, he located a sheet of forged currency in a safe in the Defendant’s apartment. Jurors were able to see that the sheet of forged bills had the same serial numbers as the cut bills found in Barlow’s motorcycle.
Prosecutors Bill Price and Tiffany Clark presented the State’s case. During closing arguments for punishment, Clark reminded the jury that they had the opportunity to send a message to this defendant who continues to disregard the law, and keep him out of the community for as long as the law would allow. Price praised the work of all law enforcement involved in this case, both Granite Shoals PD and Austin PD, and was grateful for the careful attention that the jury paid during the both phases of the trial. District Attorney Sonny McAfee said, “through the collaborative efforts of multiple agencies, this community is a safer place and justice was surely and swiftly served on this Defendant.”
Provided by: Bailey Rogers Office Manager 33rd/424th District Attorney's Office 1701 E. Polk Street; Suite 24, Burnet, Texas 78611 (512)756-5449