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Laredo, Texas, Border Reports Issued by Presencia News

Border Violence: Sheriff Martin Cuellar Releases Criminals for $15

In the border city of Laredo, Texas, and Webb County, jail-busting is at a discount, according to Presencia's Online Publisher John Rodriguez. Laredo police officers are busy looking out for law-breakers; it's just a regular day for the border city.

When giving him the scoop on how people are being released from jail with just $15, Eric Barrientos, a young man outside the Laredo Post Office, said, "The police risk their lives every day; crime is never-ending. Robberies are up, and drug dealing is on the rise. I know that's for sure. Sheriff Martin Cuellar - like the previous Sheriff - whines about federal funding for the border to fight crime, but how can you show 'face' when you are illegally releasing people back to the street? It does not make sense or 'cents' for that matter. At $15, drug dealers and other criminals are getting a bargain.

"With the risk-factor of being a border city, Laredo is very familiar with the wave of crimes that over-spill into the area. Border violence is a major issue," said resident Henry Bustamante.

Citizens in Laredo are concerned. Despite the fact that there is an issue with violence in the border city, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar has been reported to be releasing individuals to family members, friends, or just about anybody. "I guess the sheriff is in the business of releasing criminals, not catching them." said Javier Flores, a store owner who owns two stores in the Laredo, Texas, downtown area. "I heard you just pay them $15 or $30 bail bond fee, and they'll release the inmate to you.

"It's kind of conflicting," he continues. "How can you be elected to protect the community when you are actually releasing scum back to the community? It's very suspicious. Somehow, you think that maybe they are cooperating with criminals. Even all the justices of the peace have been on the bandwagon for so long. They'll release you on your own signature no matter what you do. The judges don't charge 15 bucks - all they want is your signature, so it's a 'freebie'."

Presencia, a newly up-coming news Web site, has been investigating the concern. "It's true. In Webb county you need to be licensed to bail people out of jail, but Sheriff Martin Cuellar is not following the law," says Rodriguez. "He'll let anyone out with $15 and a signature. He has released persons accused of assault, possession of marijuana, driving while intoxicated, engaging in criminal activity, robbery, thefts, possession of controlled substance, failure to identify, burglary, drug dealers - you name it.

"The Webb County Sheriff's department has illegally been releasing inmates to people that are not licensed as attorneys or non-license bail bondsman," affirms Rodriguez. "The sheriff cries about how the jail is full. Why should that be a burden to the Webb County or the Laredo tax payer? Isn't that why he got elected - to catch criminals! Stop crying and start acting like a law enforcement officer. This is not Mayberry, anymore."

Presencia will continue to investigate illegal release of inmates. "The sheriff thinks that because his brother is Congressman Henry Cuellar, he can do whatever he wants, but he is not above the law," stated Rodriguez.

Rodriguez points out that the Texas Attorney General has already expressed in detail concerns about the process of bail. In Texas Attorney Opinion JM-1057 (1989) and DM-59 (1991), it clearly states that is illegal to sign on a bail bond without proper license, and there is a specific provision of the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1704.303, which makes the act of executing a bail bond a criminal offense if that person does not hold a license issued under this chapter. Section 1704.303(c), makes an offense under this section a Class B misdemeanor. Yet, many people in Webb County, Texas, are being released by people that are not licensed as bail bondsman or attorneys.

For more information and to speak about these issues, contact Presencia News Publisher John Rodriguez at presencia12@gmail.com, or call Sheriff Martin Cuellar at (523)523-4500 or call U.S. Senator John Cornyn at (202) 224-2934.
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