TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - An Arlington man’s capital murder conviction related to the 2021 shooting death of a Smith County pastor was upheld by the 12th Court of Criminal Appeals.
The court issued a memorandum opinion Wednesday affirming Mytrez Deunte Woolen’s conviction and denying his appeal.
In September 2024, a jury found Woolen guilty of killing Starrville Methodist Church pastor Mark McWilliams while Woolen was burglarizing the church. Woolen was automatically given a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
In his appeal, Woolen argued there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction, specially the underlying felony. The appeals court ruled the jury in its determination found Woolen had committed the offense of capital murder and overruled Woolen’s objection.
The a