County Attorney Press Releases

February 2015 - Posts

El Paso County Attorney Releases the Names of Thousands of Individuals with Outstanding Hot-Check Warrants

As of Friday February 27, 2015, records of El Paso County indicate that the following individuals had a warrant for their arrest. A name placed on this list is not evidence of guilt. This information is prepared from public records and may not be current and should not be relied on for arrests or any other purposes. This list is informational only and is limited to misdemeanor “Theft by Check” cases. Although reasonable care is taken, clerical errors may exist. Searches based on a name are not always accurate due to use of middle/maiden/married names, or variations in spelling.

For more information regarding hot-check payments and balances please contact the El Paso County Attorney's Office Hot Check Unit at 546-2051. Individuals with outstanding warrants can make payments online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through “Hot Check ePay,” by visiting the El Paso County Attorney’s Office web-page at https://apps.epcounty.com/hotchecks/Forms/Search.aspx.

 2015 Warrant List.pdf

 

# # #

Local Organizations Unite To Offer Free Assistance To Execute “Medical Wills” on March 13, 2015

El Paso County Attorney's Office and the University Medical Center of El Paso are partnering with the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP) to promote the use of Advance Medical Directives (“medical wills”) in the community, particularly among the beneficiaries of public housing programs in El Paso County. The pilot program was created to inspire, educate and empower the public about the importance of advance care planning.

As part of the campaign to promote the use of the “living wills,” attorneys from the County Attorney’s Office, and volunteers from the University Medical Center will be offering free assistance regarding advance care planning and advance directive forms on Friday March 13, 2015, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Tays Community complex, 2201 San Antonio St. All residents of El Paso County are encouraged to come and get assistance drafting their advance directives forms.

Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to convey your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They provide a way for you to communicate your wishes to family, friends, and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion later on.

A Directive to Physicians or Living Will tells how you feel about care intended to sustain life. You can accept or refuse medical care. There are many issues to address, including:

  • The use of dialysis and breathing machines
  • If you want to be resuscitated if breathing or heartbeat stops
  • Tube feeding
  • Organ or tissue donation
  • Blood transfusions

A Medical Power of Attorney allows individuals to designate someone they trust to make health decisions if they are unable to do so.

As part of the program, the participating organizations will another similar event in another HACEP housing complex in Central El Paso. The event will be free and open to the general public.

April 7, 2015

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Paisano Green Community

4000 E. Paisano St.

El Paso, TX 79905

 

Individuals interested in getting the Directive to Physicians and Medical Power of Attorney forms can download them by visiting the County Attorney’s web page at www.epcounty.com/ca. The forms are available in both English and Spanish.

WHO: Volunteers from the County Attorney’s Office and UMC

WHAT: Free Assistance in drafting “Living Wills”

WHEN: Friday, March 13, 2015, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Tays Community Complex, 2201 San Antonio St.

2014 Living Wills Campaign Press Release 9.pdf 

Con Artist Sentenced To 6 Months In Jail After Pleading Guilty Of Swindling El Paso Entrepreneurs

El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal today announced that a northeast resident accused of taking thousands of dollars from local entrepreneurs was recently convicted and sentenced by a County Court judge.

On January 28, 2015, Johnny Ray Mills plead guilty to three counts of Deceptive Trade Practices stemming from two different cases.

In the first case, Mills plead guilty to one count of Deceptive Trade Practices for taking more than $3,200 from the owners of the restaurant franchise “Wing It,” to secure the rental of non-existent commercial property inside Fort Bliss. The victims also paid more than $300 to advertise their restaurants to soldiers and families at the military base, but the defendant never rendered the services. The offenses occurred between November and December 2013. For this case, County Court at Law #2 Judge Julie Gonzalez sentenced Mills to 180 days in jail.

In the second case, Mills plead guilty to two counts of Deceptive Trade Practices for taking almost $600 from the owner of “Tidal Wave Spas and Pool Supplies” to advertise the business at the Freedom Crossing Shopping Center. The incident occurred in November 20, 2013. Mills was charged with one count for offering services he was not authorized to offer, and with a second count for failing to deliver the advertising services he was paid to provide. County Court at Law #2 Judge Julie Gonzalez also sentenced Mills to 180 days in jail for each of the two charges. All the sentences will run concurrently.

El Paso County Attorney Jo Bernal said that these sentences should send a strong warning to those thinking about defrauding consumers in El Paso.

“Committing fraud against businesses or individuals in Texas, regardless of the amount, is a serious crime. Defendants can be sent to prison for several years,” Bernal said.

“If someone feels that has been the victim of an unscrupulous merchant, we are asking them to file a report with the local law enforcement agency as soon as possible, or call our office at (915) 546-2050,” Bernal concluded.

Johnny Mills Press Release.pdf 

 

# # #