A 20‑year‑old Texas man, Joshua Bermea, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison (40 years for burglary of a habitation and 10 years for a drug offense, running consecutively) after abusing and assaulting a woman he previously dated.
Pattern of harassment and threats
- After the victim ended their relationship, Bermea repeatedly harassed and threatened her; in September 2023 he followed her in his car while calling her, threatening to rear‑end her and telling her, “Imma make you live in hell.”
- On November 8, 2023, he sent her about 250 threatening, aggressive, and derogatory texts, including threats to kill her, hurt her family, and slash her tires, plus messages like “Imma hurt the [explet Dante] outta you just [expletive] wait.”
The home invasion and assault
- On November 9, 2023, Bermea entered her New Braunfels home without permission, took her phone, and physically attacked her: he slapped and backhanded her, pushed her to the ground, punched her in the body and legs, and choked her by placing both hands around her neck, briefly cutting off her breathing.
- The beating was so severe that one of her ears began ringing and she temporarily lost her hearing; after fleeing, Bermea broke her phone and sent her another threatening text saying he would “be back one night to finish” and mocking that she had “no protector.”
Legal outcome
- Bermea ultimately pleaded guilty to burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony other than theft and to a separate drug charge, and Judge Gary Steel sentenced him to 40 years plus 10 consecutive years in prison.
- Comal County prosecutors emphasized that the case reflects a clear pattern of escalating domestic‑style abuse and threats, and highlighted that victims of this kind of stalking and violence can contact local law enforcement or the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1‑800‑799‑7233) for help and safety planning.
