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County Attorney

2006 Press Releases
Environmental Company and Owner fined the maximum for Illegal Dumping (9.30 KB)

12-22-06

County Attorney Prosecutes Landlord after Fire Uncovers Several Families Living Under Dangerous Conditions (160 KB)
12-21-06
El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez has successfully prosecuted a landlord who had several families, including half a dozen children, living in very dangerous and unhealthy conditions.
Family Affected by Recent Floods Fall Victim to Deceitful Contractors (175 KB)
Police initiates search for wanted contractors (175 KB) (Spanish version)
12-21-06
County Attorney Wins Civil Case that will have State-wide Fiscal and Legal Impact (152 KB)
12-15-06

El Paso County government will be able to collect thousands of additional dollars yearly from Bail Bond Companies, and District and County Judges all over the state will have better control of their criminal dockets, thanks to a legal argument brought forward by El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez.

Juvenile Convicted of Capital Murder to be Transferred to Adult Prison This Week (175 KB)
12-13-06 County Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today that Adam Curiel, the 17-year-old juvenile found delinquent of Capital Murder on November 2003, will be transferred this week to an adult prison to serve the remainder of his 40-year sentence.
County Attorney to Meet with Residents of Colonias Concerned about Sheriff's Traffick Checkpoints (156 KB)
11-29-06

On Sunday December 3, 2006, El Paso

Swimming Pool Contractor Pleads Guilty to 4 Charges of Deceptive Business Practices (175 KB)
11-17-06
El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today the sentencing of a local swimming pool contractor accused of 4 criminal charges of Deceptive Business Practices and one additional charge of Theft by Check.
Contractor Convicted... Again!!! (172 KB)
11-17-06
El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today the sentencing of a Landscaping Contractor accused of 3 charges of Deceptive Business Practices.
Man Convicted for Illegaly Dumping Pollutants into Storm Drain at City Hall (903 KB)
11-9-06
El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today the sentencing of an individual found guilty of dumping restaurant grease into a storm drain located next to El Paso City Hall.
Voting Machines Press Conference
11-3-06
Today at 4:30 PM El Paso County Attorney José Rodríguez will hold an emergency press conference to inform about an investigation into allegations of malfunctioning of several Diebold electronic voting machines in El Paso County.
Statements from El Paso County Attorney Jose R. Rodriguez Regarding the Voting Machines Complaints (388 KB)
11-3-06
“Up until this moment, all we have are allegations of voting problems. We are investigating the complaints our office received to determine if indeed there is a problem with the Diebold electronic voting machines. At this time there is no reason to believe the election has been compromised in any way.”
Neglected and Abused Children in El Paso Need Foster Families (170 KB)
11-6-06
On Thursday November 2, 2006, El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez, the 65th District Court Judge Alfredo Chávez, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and the El Paso C.A.R.E. Coalition will host the 2006 Adoption Conference and Professional Seminar.
High School Students to Receive Training on How to Prevent Dating Violence (28. 1 KB)
10-31-06
Members of the El Paso County Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit will offer an educational awareness seminar about dating violence to more than 600 Americas High School students.
Statements Made by El Paso County Attorney Jose R. Rodriguez Regarding the Case of the 16-year-old Girl Accused of Drug Trafficking (146 KB)
10-27-06
“I am very concerned about the problem of teens trying to bring drugs into the U.S. ”
County Attorney and Texas Border Coalition will Request the Texas Legislature to Solve Serious Health Care Problems Along the Border (161 KB)
10-23-06 Members of the Texas Border Coalition approved this morning in San Antonio the 2007-2008 Border Health Legislative Agenda drafted by El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez, as Chair of the TBC’s Border Health Committee.
County Attorney will Testify in Austin Against Weakening Colonias Regulations (155 KB)
10-20-06
The Texas Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade will conduct hearings aimed at strengthening state law that prevents the creation of new colonias lacking basic water/wastewater infrastructure. The hearings come in response to recent proposals to water down existing colonias legislation.
Thousands of Students will Learn how to Dispose of Hi-Tech Trash (727 KB)
10-12-06
High-tech trash, including old computers, televisions and cellular phones, might be causing environmental problems in El Paso. According to the EPA, circuit boards and batteries contain toxic materials such as mercury and hexavalent chromium. Despite that, there are very few federal and state regulations regarding the disposal of household electronic equipment, and because of that, much of it is improperly dumped in municipal landfills, creating a danger of contaminating the soil and the water underneath the site.
Candlelight Vigil to Raise Awareness About Mentally Ill in El Paso (160 KB)
10-4-06
The lack of sufficient, good quality, and affordable long-term housing in El Paso for people suffering from severe mental illness, along with the limited access to crisis centers, intermediate care facilities, and outpatient services, is creating a public health crisis in our community. However, not enough people and organizations seem to be concerned about the issue.
County Attorney's Office to Host Legal Seminar for the Elderly (158 KB)
9-27-06
To educate seniors regarding legal matters affecting them and inform them about the services available to improve their lives, El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez has organized the second “Annual Legal Day for the Elderly”.
Workshop to Teach Socorro ISD Faculty About the Dangers of Gangs (151 KB)
9-27-06 El Paso County Attorney’s Juvenile Division Chief Mark Burtner will be the keynote speaker at tomorrow’s “Gang Awareness Workshop” organized by the Socorro Independent School District at El Dorado High School.
A Brief Explanation About the "Determinate Sentence” Statue in Juvenile Criminal Cases (155 KB)
09-23-06
What is the "determinate sentencing" statute? It is a special statute in the Texas Juvenile Code that allows for the possibility of a juvenile serving a sentence beyond the age of 21. It specifically covers certain violent offenses and drug cases, like murder, capital murder, sexual assault, and indecency with a child. Aggravated controlled substances cases are also covered.
El Paso County Attorney Named Region III "Government Business Advocate" by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (153 KB)
9-15-06
The President of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Michael Barrera, will present the region III “Government Hispanic Business Advocate Award” to El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez, during a ceremony to be held on Thursday September 21, 2006 in Philadelphia, PA.
16-Year Old Female Found with 49 Pounds of Cocaine to be Prosecuted Under Special Court Proceeding (152 KB)
9-14-06

El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today that he has received grand jury approval to seek a determinate sentence for a 16-year-old girl caught attempting to bring into the U.S. more than 49 pounds of cocaine.

Realty Company Fined for Illegal Dumping (155 KB)
9-13-06
El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today the sentencing of a corporation accused of violating the State Illegal Dumping Statute on a piece of property in Northeast El Paso County.
Environmental Summit to Discuss Ways to Keep El Paso Clean and Beautiful (157 KB)
9-1-06
Every year hundreds of residents of El Paso participate in isolated clean up efforts organized by different community groups. Their very valuable effort could bring even better results if coordinated towards a common, community-wide environmental goal.
Hot Check Writers Arrested During "Operation Bounce" Round Up
8-26-06
On Saturday August 26 at 6 AM, officers from the El Paso Sheriff Department, the County Attorney’s Office, the US Marshal’s Office, the Tax Assessor Office, and County Constables, initiated an arrest warrant round up, as part of “Operation Bounce”.
Only 2 Days Left to Take Advantage of the Hot Check Amnesty Period (149 KB)
8-23-06
El Paso County residents with outstanding hot check warrants have only 2 days left to pay to avoid arrest during the upcoming Operation “Bounce.”
Only 3 Days Left to Take Advantage of the Hot Check Amnesty Period (165 KB)
8-18-06
El Paso County residents with outstanding hot check warrants have only 3 days left to pay to avoid arrest during the upcoming Operation “Bounce.”
Montana Vista Resident Convicted of Causing a Dangerous Fire (165 KB)
8-18-06
El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today the sentencing of an individual accused of violating the Clean Air Act on a piece of property in the Montana Vista area of El Paso County.
Immigration Reform Resolution to be Unveiled Tomorrow (157 KB)
8-16-06
Local community leaders, among them El Paso Mayor John Cook, State Senator Eliot Shapleigh, State Representative Norma Chavez, County Attorney José Rodríguez, and Socorro Mayor Trini Lopez, will unveil and sign a resolution on the issue of immigration reform.
New Program Allows Local Merchants to Collect Faster from Hot Check Writers (147 KB)
8-11-06
During today’s annual Hot Check Seminar, El Paso County Attorney José Rodríguez unveiled today a new free service that will provide merchants with faster access to funds collected by this office from hot checks writers.
Free Hot Check Seminar: Learn how to collect restitution and fees from hot check writers (163 KB)
8-9-06
El Paso County Attorney José Rodríguez will be offering a free seminar to explain to local merchants and the general public how they can take advantage of the free hot check collection service offered by the Hot Check Unit.
County to Target Hot Check Writers Thru Operation “Bounce”
8-7-06
On Wednesday August 9 at 10 AM, El Paso County Attorney José Rodríguez and Sheriff Leo Samaniego will join representatives of other law enforcement agencies to announce a major initiative, “Operation Bounce”, to collect on money owed to El Paso businesses by hot check writers.
Seminar to Teach Senior Citizens How to Avoid Becoming Victims of Fraud
8-1-06
The El Paso County Attorney's Office will offer two free seminars to teach senior citizens about the new criminal trends affecting the elderly in our community and the precautions they should take to avoid becoming a victim of deceptive business practices.
Seminar to Teach Senior Citizens How to Avoid Becoming Victims of Fraud (149 KB)
8-1-06
The El Paso County Attorney's Office will offer two free seminars to teach senior citizens about the new criminal trends affecting the elderly in our community and the precautions they should take to avoid becoming a victim of deceptive business practices.
Volunteers Trained by the County Attorney's Office Help Victims at Crime Scenes
7-31-06
The El Paso County Attorney’s Office will be among several local agencies training new volunteers of the El Paso Police Department’s Victim Services Response Team (VSRT). The training is intended to give volunteers the knowledge necessary to fulfill victims’ needs, and includes legal education on crime victims’ protection and the protective order system.
Enforcement Officers to Fight Illegal Dumping in Rural Areas (150 KB)
7-25-06
Illegal dumping, water pollution and illegal burning are not only three of the biggest problems affecting rural areas of El Paso County, they are also environmental crimes that often go unreported and unpunished.
Low Income Families in the El Paso Still Need Relief from the Heat: El Paso Extreme Weather Task Force organizes fan drive and fundraiser.
7-20-06
The high temperatures are back, as we expect to reach near triple digits today and tomorrow. Unfortunately the County Attorney's Elder Protection Unit is running low on fans to give relief to needy families.
Hot Checks Warrants Available Online: List contains nearly 5,000 individuals who face criminal charges (168 KB)
7-18-06
El Paso County Attorney José Rodríguez announced today a new service that will allow the public to easily check the current county’s hot checks warrants list. The list is available starting today from any computer with internet access by visiting the El Paso County web page: www.epcounty.com.
El Paso County Attorney Settles “Operation Linebacker” Lawsuit: Agreement Avoids Lengthy and Costly Litigation Process (163 KB)

7-10-06

El Paso County Attorney José Rodríguez announces that Commissioner’s Court has approved an out of court settlement with local activist Carl Starr, to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed in federal court against the El Paso County.
Notary Public Charged with Offering Immigration Services that Were Never Rendered
7-7-06
The El Paso County Attorney José Rodríguez has filed criminal charges against a Socorro notary public alleging she conducted deceptive business practices.