Lufkin Gang Member Sentenced to Life After Jury Conviction in Angelina County

ANGELINA COUNTY, Texas — A 40-year-old Lufkin man with a lengthy criminal history and documented gang affiliation has been sentenced to life in prison following a jury conviction this week in Angelina County.

Bobby Joe Rodenbough was found guilty in the 217th Judicial District Court of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Angelina County District Attorney Amy Wren.

Bobby Joe Rodenbough, 40, was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in Angelina County.

The conviction stems from a March 2025 traffic stop conducted by the Lufkin Police Department during an investigation into an attempted vehicle theft. Officers identified Rodenbough as a passenger in the vehicle and determined he had an active warrant for parole violations.

Authorities reported that the vehicle did not have insurance, and during a search, officers located a firearm and methamphetamine. Investigators later determined the gun had been in Rodenbough’s possession and that he had attempted to conceal it from law enforcement.

At the time of his arrest, Rodenbough was on parole for multiple prior felony convictions, including assault family violence by impeding breath or circulation, evading arrest and possession of a controlled substance.

During the trial, jurors were presented with evidence detailing Rodenbough’s criminal record, which includes multiple felony convictions and repeated assault family violence offenses. Testimony also addressed his affiliation with the Aryan Brotherhood gang.

District Attorney Wren emphasized the dangers associated with domestic violence involving strangulation, citing research indicating that victims who have been strangled by a partner face significantly increased risk of being killed by that partner with a firearm.

Prosecutors argued that Rodenbough posed a continued threat to the community, law enforcement and future partners. Following deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict and sentenced him to life in prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Whitney Duke Danner, with assistance from the Angelina County District Attorney’s Office, the Lufkin Police Department and the Family Crisis Center of East Texas.