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County Attorney Press Releases

  • LGBT WEEK-LONG DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS EVENTS

    No Fear, No Guilt, No Shame Campaign             El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodriguez today announced a week-long series of events aimed to inform the ***, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community about resources available in our community to combat domestic violence.             The “No Fear, No Guilt, No Shame” campaign was organized by the County Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the organization “Puentes LGBT Resources” to reduce the incidence of domestic violence among members of the LGBT community. Gay and *** community members will receive information about programs and agencies that can provide help to victims of intimate partner violence.             The series of events are structured in a way that allows members of the legal and law enforcement agencies to answer questions and present information on available services to members of the LGBT community. At the same time, service providers will be able to learn about specific issues affecting victims within the LGBT community, and how to help them more efficiently to cope and recover from domestic violence experiences.             Gay and *** couples experience domestic violence like everyone else. Often, victims struggle with the pain on their own, fearing that law enforcement and other agencies will judge them harshly or ignore their complaints.                         The campaign will begin on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, at the El Paso County Courthouse with a community forum where the organizers will discuss the results of a survey that reveals the prevalence of LGBT domestic violence in El Paso.             The week-long activities will end on Saturday October 25, 2008 with a presentation on the domestic violence movement in LGBT communities at the state and national levels. “This conference is the latest in a series of efforts focused on raising domestic violence awareness in the community; previous conferences have been directed towards teens and the general population. This conference will focus on another, perhaps more, vulnerable population: the gay and *** community,” explained County Attorney José R. Rodríguez.   WHO:       El Paso County Attorney's Office and Puentes LGBT ResourcesWHAT:     No Fear, No Shame, No Guilt CampaignWHEN:     October 21 thru the 25, 2008WHERE:  Several locations 

    Tuesday October 21, 2008                                    6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

    Community Forum: Domestic and Dating Violence in LGBT RelationshipsEl Paso County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, 3rd floor 

    Wednesday October 22, 2008                               7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

    Roundtable Discussion: Legal Aspects of LGBT ViolenceThe Percolator, 217 N Stanton St. (by invitation only) 

    Thursday October 23, 2008                                   6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

    Panel Discussion: LGBT Issues in Domestic ViolenceCenter Against Family Violence, 580 Giles Rd. 

    Friday October 24, 2008                              6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

    Presentation: Legal Advocacy for LGBT CommunitiesMetropolitan Community Church, 216 S. Ochoa St. 

    Saturday October 25, 2008                                   1:45 -2:30 p.m.

    Presentation: Reaching Out to LGBT Victims of Intimate Partner ViolenceRegion 19 ESC Head Start Multi-Purpose Center, 11670 Chito Samaniego  For more information about a particular event please call Sam Aguilera at (915) 526-1350. 

    # # #

    LGBT Domestic Violence Press Release.pdf

    Posted Nov 03 2008, 12:03 PM by edominguez with no comments
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  • FAMILY OF HOT CHECK WRITERS ARRESTED DURING 2ND DAY OF ROUNDUPS

    On Wednesday October 22, 2008, the second day of roundups, officers from the El Paso Sheriff Department, the County Attorney’s Office, Texas DPS Troopers, and County Constables continued conducting warrant roundups against individuals with outstanding hot checks.             Today officers arrested 14 individuals, among them 3 members of the same family with outstanding warrants for writing hot checks. Early this morning officers arrested 48-year-old Ricardo Chacon at a residence in West El Paso. Officers also picked up his daughter 28-year-old Gabriella Chacon, who was listed as living at an apartment complex also in West El Paso. When Chacon’s wife, 41-year-old Mirna Vega showed up at the jail to bond them out, the officers decided to run her name and discovered that she also had an outstanding warrant for writing hot checks. All of them were released after paying $1,060 in restitution.              With today’s roundup, the County Attorney’s Office collected an additional $17,250 for local merchants. That amount, along with the $120,829 that were collected since the beginning of the amnesty period on October 3, 2008, brings the total collection to more than $138,000.             With today’s detentions the number of individuals arrested is now 29. In the upcoming days investigators from the County Attorney's Office will continue their search for individuals with outstanding arrest warrants.                        Individuals with outstanding hot-checks may attempt to avoid arrest in upcoming roundups by paying as soon as possible. However, the amnesty period is over, and law enforcement officers can conduct arrests at any time without prior notice.  To make payments individuals need to go to the El Paso County Attorney’s Office, 5th floor of the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Forms of payment accepted include most credit cards, money orders, cashiers checks, and cash, however those paying cash would have to bring the exact amount (cashiers can’t give change). For more information regarding hot check payments and balances please contact the El Paso County Attorney’s Office Hot Check Unit at 546-2051. The complete and updated list of individuals with theft by check outstanding warrants will remain posted in the El Paso County web site at: www.epcounty.com/CA.              Resident with no access to a computer can look up their names by picking up one of more than 10,000 free copies of the printed warrants list that have been distributed throughout El Paso County at the following locations: 

    -         El Paso Police Headquarters                 911 N. Raynor                         El Paso, TX 79903

    -         EPP Central Regional Command           200 S. Campbell St.                 El Paso, TX 79901

    -         EPP Mission Valley Command             9011 Escobar Dr.                     El Paso, TX 79907

    -         EPP Northeast Regional Command       9600 Dyer St.                          El Paso, TX 79924

    -         EPP Pebble Hills Command                  10780 Pebble Hills                   El Paso, TX 79935

    -         EPP Westside Regional Command        4801 Osborne Dr.                    Paso, Texas 79922

     

    -         El Paso County Sheriff's Office Vinton Substation                                  436A E. Vinton Road

    -         El Paso County Sheriff's Office Headquarters                            3850 Justice Drive

     

    -         Justice of the Peace #2 (Northeast)                   4641 Cohen, Suite A

    -         Justice of the Peace #1 (West-side)                  424 Executive Center Suite 100

     

    -         Anthony Police Department                              401 Wildcat Dr, Anthony TX

    -         Horizon Police Dept.                                        14999 Darrington Rd. Horizon City, TX

    -         Socorro Police Dept.                                        800 N Rio Vista Rd. Socorro, TX

     

    -         Vista Foods Supermarket                                 121 N. Kenazo           

    -         Vista Foods Supermarket Central                     2231 N. Zaragosa      

    -         Vista Foods Supermarket Montana Vista       14700 Montana

         

    -         La Feria Grocery and Market                           502 S Mesa St., El Paso, TX

    -         La Feria Supermarket Anthony             317 Main St, Anthony TX

     

    -         Mr. Payroll Check Cashing                               4426 Dyer St

     

    -         All five Quality Food Marts in El Paso

     

    -         All six Melek locations in El Paso

     

    # # #

     

    Hot Check Roundup Day 2 Press Release.pdf

    Posted Nov 03 2008, 12:01 PM by edominguez with no comments
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  • HOT CHECK WRITERS ARRESTED DURING EARLY MORNING ROUNDUP

    On Tuesday October 21, 2008 officers from the El Paso Sheriff Department, the County Attorney’s Office, Texas DPS Troopers, and County Constables conducted an early warrant round up against individuals with outstanding hot checks.             Several teams went out today targeting nearly 100 fugitives and after 6 hours on the field, the officers arrested 15 fugitives who were booked into the County jail.             With today’s round up, the County Attorney’s Office collected an additional $6,291 for local merchants. That amount, along with the $114,538 that were collected since the beginning of the amnesty period on October 3, 2008, bringing the total collection to more than $120,000.             The roundups are not over. In the upcoming days, more officers will continue their search for individuals with outstanding arrest warrants for writing hot checks.                        Individuals with outstanding hot-checks may attempt to avoid arrest in upcoming roundups by paying as soon as possible. However, the amnesty period is over, and law enforcement officers can conduct arrests at any time without prior notice.  To make payments individuals need to go to the El Paso County Attorney’s Office, 5th floor of the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Forms of payment accepted include most credit cards, money orders, cashiers checks, and cash, however those paying cash would have to bring the exact amount (cashiers can’t give change). For more information regarding hot check payments and balances please contact the El Paso County Attorney’s Office Hot Check Unit at 546-2051. The complete and updated list of individuals with theft by check outstanding warrants will remain posted in the El Paso County web site at: www.epcounty.com/CA.              Resident with no access to a computer can look up their names by picking up one of more than 10,000 free copies of the printed warrants list that have been distributed throughout El Paso County at the following locations: 

    -         El Paso Police Headquarters                 911 N. Raynor                         El Paso, TX 79903

    -         EPP Central Regional Command           200 S. Campbell St.                 El Paso, TX 79901

    -         EPP Mission Valley Command             9011 Escobar Dr.                     El Paso, TX 79907

    -         EPP Northeast Regional Command       9600 Dyer St.                          El Paso, TX 79924

    -         EPP Pebble Hills Command                  10780 Pebble Hills                   El Paso, TX 79935

    -         EPP Westside Regional Command        4801 Osborne Dr.                    Paso, Texas 79922

     

    -         El Paso County Sheriff's Office Vinton Substation                                  436A E. Vinton Road

    -         El Paso County Sheriff's Office Headquarters                            3850 Justice Drive

     

    -         Justice of the Peace #2 (Northeast)                   4641 Cohen, Suite A

    -         Justice of the Peace #1 (West-side)                  424 Executive Center Suite 100

     

    -         Anthony Police Department                              401 Wildcat Dr, Anthony TX

    -         Horizon Police Dept.                                        14999 Darrington Rd. Horizon City, TX

    -         Socorro Police Dept.                                        800 N Rio Vista Rd. Socorro, TX

     

    -         Vista Foods Supermarket                                 121 N. Kenazo           

    -         Vista Foods Supermarket Central                     2231 N. Zaragosa      

    -         Vista Foods Supermarket Montana Vista       14700 Montana

         

    -         La Feria Grocery and Market                           502 S Mesa St., El Paso, TX

    -         La Feria Supermarket Anthony             317 Main St, Anthony TX

     

    -         Mr. Payroll Check Cashing                               4426 Dyer St

     

    -         All five Quality Food Marts in El Paso

     

    -         All six Melek locations in El Paso

     # # #

     Roundup Day 1 Press Release.pdf

    Posted Nov 03 2008, 11:59 AM by edominguez with no comments
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  • 16-YEAR OLD MALE ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CERTIFIED TO BE TRIED AS AN ADULT

    El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez informed today that a local 16-year-old male accused of aggravated sexual assault will be tried as an adult after a district court judge decided to certify him as an adult.                        The allegations stemmed from a night-time abduction of a young woman who left her home to get a late-night snack from a fast food restaurant. The victim was forced back into her car under the threat of a gun and driven to an isolated area of the city where she was sexually assaulted. After the attack the abductor drove her to another part of the city. When she had an opportunity, she jumped from the moving vehicle and ran screaming to a nearby home. Quick response from the El Paso Police Department’s Forensic Team lead to the discovery of a fine print and the victim subsequently identified a picture of the defendant. This morning, after hearing the facts of the case, 65th District Court Judge Alfredo Chavez certified the juvenile to face 4 criminal counts: Aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated robbery, and aggravated assault.  As a consequence of the certification, the juvenile will be transferred to the county jail to await trial. In the meantime, the County Attorney's Office will transfer the case to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution. Adult certification of a juvenile offender is reserved for the most serious criminal cases. In approving the certification the judge considers four factors:
    • Whether the alleged offense was against a person or property, with greater weight in favor of transfer given to offenses against the person.
    • The sophistication and maturity of the child.
    • The record and previous history of the child.
    • The prospects of adequate protection of the public and the likelihood of the rehabilitation of the child by use of procedures, services, and facilities currently available to the juvenile court.
     In this case, the court weighed all the factors and determined that due to the serious nature of the crimes alleged that it was appropriate to certify.  The juvenile is now subject to the full range of penalties available in adult criminal cases. - 30 - Juvenile Sex Offender Press Release.pdf

     

    Posted Nov 03 2008, 11:55 AM by edominguez with no comments
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  • SUNDAY’S NEWSPAPERS TO PRINT THOUSANDS OF NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH HOT CHECK WARRANTS

    Arrest roundups to follow publication of the names             On Sunday October 19, 2008, the El Paso County Attorney’s Office will be publishing names of more than 4,500 individuals with outstanding hot-check warrants in the two main local newspapers: El Paso Times and Diario de El Paso. The 4,626 individuals owe local merchants almost 4 million dollars. At any time after the publication of the list, officers from the El Paso Sheriff’s Office, Texas DPS Rangers, Constables, and investigators from the County Attorney's Office will conduct hot-check warrant roundups, arresting individuals at their homes and place of employment. Since Friday October 3, 2008, when the amnesty week was announced, the El Paso County Attorney's Office has received more than $98,000 in payments for outstanding hot checks.             Individuals with outstanding hot-checks may attempt to avoid arrest in the upcoming roundups by paying as soon as possible. However, the amnesty period is over, and law enforcement officers can conduct arrests at any time without prior notice.  To make payments individuals need to go to the El Paso County Attorney’s Office, 5th floor of the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Forms of payment accepted include most credit cards, money orders, cashiers checks, and cash, however those paying cash would have to bring the exact amount (cashiers can’t give change). For more information regarding hot check payments and balances please contact the El Paso County Attorney’s Office Hot Check Unit at 546-2051. The complete and updated list of individuals with theft by check outstanding warrants will remain posted in the El Paso County web site at: www.epcounty.com/CA.  

    # # #

     

    Hot Check Warrant List Publication Press Release.pdf 

     

    Posted Oct 20 2008, 02:17 PM by edominguez with no comments
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  • WEEK-LONG DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS EVENTS FOR THE ***,GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY

    No Fear, No Guilt, No Shame Campaign             El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodriguez today announced a week-long series of events aimed to inform the ***, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community about resources available in our community to combat domestic violence.             The “No Fear, No Guilt, No Shame” campaign was organized by the County Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the organization “Puentes LGBT Resources” to reduce the incidence of domestic violence among members of the LGBT community. Gay and *** community members will receive information about programs and agencies that can provide help to victims of intimate partner violence.             The series of events are structured in a way that allows members of the legal and law enforcement agencies to answer questions and present information on available services to members of the LGBT community. At the same time, service providers will be able to learn about specific issues affecting victims within the LGBT community, and how to help them more efficiently to cope and recover from domestic violence experiences.             Gay and *** couples experience domestic violence like everyone else. Often, victims struggle with the pain on their own, fearing that law enforcement and other agencies will judge them harshly or ignore their complaints.                         The campaign will begin on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, at the El Paso County Courthouse with a community forum where the organizers will discuss the results of a survey that reveals the prevalence of LGBT domestic violence in El Paso.             The week-long activities will end on Saturday October 25, 2008 with a presentation on the domestic violence movement in LGBT communities at the state and national levels. “This conference is the latest in a series of efforts focused on raising domestic violence awareness in the community; previous conferences have been directed towards teens and the general population. This conference will focus on another, perhaps more, vulnerable population: the gay and *** community,” explained County Attorney José R. Rodríguez.   WHO:       El Paso County Attorney's Office and Puentes LGBT ResourcesWHAT:     No Fear, No Shame, No Guilt CampaignWHEN:     October 21 thru the 25, 2008WHERE:  Several locations 

    Tuesday October 21, 2008                                    6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

    Community Forum: Domestic and Dating Violence in LGBT RelationshipsEl Paso County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, 3rd floor 

    Wednesday October 22, 2008                               7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

    Roundtable Discussion: Legal Aspects of LGBT ViolenceThe Percolator, 217 N Stanton St. (by invitation only) 

    Thursday October 23, 2008                                   6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

    Panel Discussion: LGBT Issues in Domestic ViolenceCenter Against Family Violence, 580 Giles Rd. 

    Friday October 24, 2008                              6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

    Presentation: Legal Advocacy for LGBT CommunitiesMetropolitan Community Church, 216 S. Ochoa St. 

    Saturday October 25, 2008                                   1:45 -2:30 p.m.

    Presentation: Reaching Out to LGBT Victims of Intimate Partner ViolenceRegion 19 ESC Head Start Multi-Purpose Center, 11670 Chito Samaniego  For more information about a particular event please call Sam Aguilera at (915) 526-1350. # # #

    LGBT Domestic Violence Press Release.pdf

    Posted Oct 20 2008, 02:13 PM by edominguez with no comments
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  • HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOT-CHECK AMNESTY WEEK

    Hot-Check Writers still can Avoid Arrest by Paying by Friday El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today that more than 300 hot-check writers took advantage of the amnesty week.             Since Friday October 3, 2008, when the amnesty week was announced, more than 300 El Paso residents took advantage of the program paying $50,088 in outstanding hot-checks. Individuals who paid by today’s deadline will have their names deleted from the list of hot-check writers that will be published in the local newspapers on Sunday October 19, 2008. The list will include more than 4,200 names of individuals who owe local merchants almost 4 million dollars.             Although the amnesty period is over, individuals with outstanding hot-checks still can avoid arrest in the upcoming warrant roundups by paying by this Friday October 17, 2008. However, their names will still appear in the hot-check warrant list that will be distributed inside Sunday’s El Paso Times and Diario de El Paso. At any time after the publication of the list, Officers from the El Paso Sheriff’s Office, the US Marshals, Texas DPS rangers, and investigators from the County Attorney's Office will conduct hot-check warrant roundups, arresting individuals at their homes and place of employment. Residents still interested in paying their outstanding hot checks by this Friday October 17, 2008 can make their payments at the  El Paso County Attorney’s Office, 5th floor of the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Forms of payment accepted include most credit cards, money orders, cashiers checks, and cash, however those paying cash would have to bring the exact amount (cashiers can’t give change). For more information regarding hot check payments and balances please contact the El Paso County Attorney’s Office Hot Check Unit at 546-2051. The complete and updated list of individuals with theft by check outstanding warrants will remain posted in the El Paso County web site at: www.epcounty.com/CA.

    Amnesty Week Collections Press Release.pdf

    Posted Oct 13 2008, 05:41 PM by edominguez with no comments
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  • DUE TO COURTHOUSE EVACUATION, HOT CHECK AMNESTY PERIOD EXTENDED UNTIL MONDAY

    El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today that, due to the evacuation of the courthouse, the amnesty week for hot check writers has been extended until Monday October 13, 2008. Individuals who pay their outstanding checks by Monday at 5:00 p.m. will not have their names printed in the newspapers on Sunday October 19, 2008. County Attorney Rodríguez made the decision to extend the amnesty period after an electric fire forced the closing of the courthouse around noon today. Shortly after the Courthouse was evacuated, the County Attorney’s Office started to receive dozens of phone-calls from individuals who were not able to enter the building to make their payments and who were concerned about the publication of their names in the local newspapers. Residents with outstanding hot check warrants can make their payments at the El Paso County Attorney’s Office, 5th floor of the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio. The payment window at the County Attorney’s Office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p. m.  In addition to avoid the publication of their names in the local newspapers, individuals who make payments during the amnesty period will save money by avoiding the payment of many fees, such as court costs, attorney fees, and the payment of bonds. Most importantly, they will avoid incarceration during the upcoming countywide arrest warrant round up. Forms of payment accepted include most credit cards, money orders, cashiers checks, and cash, however those paying cash would have to bring the exact amount (cashiers can’t give change). For more information regarding hot check payments and balances please contact the El Paso County Attorney’s Office Hot Check Unit at 546-2051. The complete and updated list of individuals with theft by check outstanding warrants will remain posted in the El Paso County web site at: www.epcounty.com/CA.              At the beginning of the amnesty period there were more than 4,600 names in the County’s hot checks warrants list, who owed local merchants more than 4.04 million dollars.  During fiscal year 2007-2008 the County Attorney’s Hot Check Unit collected 1.4 million dollars in outstanding hot checks

    Hot Check Amnesty Week Extended Press Release.pdf

    Posted Oct 13 2008, 05:38 PM by edominguez with no comments
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  • AMNESTY PERIOD AND MASSIVE OUTSTANDING HOT-CHECK WARRANT ROUNDUP ANNOUNCED

    El Paso County Sheriff Jimmy Apodaca and Assistant County Attorney Kent Sutton announced today an upcoming massive warrant roundup and amnesty week for individuals with outstanding hot check warrants in El Paso County.  The amnesty period runs from Monday October 6 thru Friday October 10, 2008. Individuals with outstanding hot check warrants who pay during the amnesty period will avoid the publication of their names in a special insert to be distributed in the El Paso Times on Sunday October 19, 2008. Additionally, individuals who make payments during the amnesty week will save money by avoiding the payment of many fees, such as court costs, attorney fees, and the payment of bonds. Most importantly, they will avoid incarceration during the upcoming county-wide arrest warrant round-up. Residents with outstanding hot check warrants can make their payments at the El Paso County Attorney’s Office, 5th floor of the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio. The payment window at the County Attorney’s Office will be operating with extended hours Monday thru Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Forms of payment accepted include most credit cards, money orders, cashiers checks, and cash, however those paying cash would have to bring the exact amount (cashiers can’t give change). For more information regarding hot check payments and balances please contact the El Paso County Attorney’s Office Hot Check Unit at 546-2051. The complete and updated list of individuals with theft by check outstanding warrants will remain posted in the El Paso County web site at: www.epcounty.com/CA.               There are currently more than 4,600 names in the County’s hot checks warrants list, who owe local merchants more than 4.04 million dollars. During fiscal year 2007-2008 the Hot Check Unit collected 1.4 million dollars in outstanding hot checks

    2008 Hot Check Amnesty Week Press Release.pdf

    Posted Oct 03 2008, 05:13 PM by edominguez with no comments

  • Teen Dating Violence Seminar: Hip-Hop and Violence

    INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FILMMAKER COMES TO EL PASO TO DISCUSS THE VIOLENT CULTURE OF HIP-HOP

    Will lead discussion on how rap music is fueling dating violence among teens             El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodriguez is proud to invite members of the media to participate in a press conference with award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer, and anti-sexist activist Byron Hurt.             Mr. Hurt will be in El Paso on Wednesday October 1st, 2008 to participate in the County Attorney’s Office Annual Teen Dating Violence workshop, which this year will feature his documentary “Hip-Hop: Beyond the Beats and Rhymes.”             The filmmaker will conduct a pre-screening discussion of the film, followed by a viewing of the film, and a post-screening discussion of such pressing issues as women and violence in rap music, representations of manhood in hip-hop culture, what today’s rap lyrics reveal to their listeners, and homoeroticism in hip-hop. Hundreds of local teens are expected to participate in this seminar aimed at reducing the incidence of dating violence in El Paso.             Because of his busy schedule, Mr. Byron will only be available for interviews during a scheduled 30-minute press conference, so we encourage interested members of the media to be punctual. Right after the press conference reporters will also have an opportunity to speak to some of the teens who will be participating in the workshop.  WHO:       Award-winning Documentary Filmmaker Byron HurtWHAT:     Press Conference on Hip-Hop and ViolenceWHEN:     Wednesday October 1, 2008 at 11:35 a.m.WHERE: Auditorium of the YISD Cultural Arts Center9600 Sims      # # #  

    About the film “Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes”: Sparking dialogue on hip-hop and its declarations on gender, HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes provides thoughtful insight from intelligent, divergent voices including rap artists, industry executives, rap fans and social critics from inside and outside the hip-hop generation. The film includes interviews with famous rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D and Jadakiss and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. The film discloses the complex intersection of culture, commerce and gender through on-the-street interviews with aspiring rappers and fans at hip-hop events throughout the country.

      “I sometimes feel bad for criticizing hip-hop, but I guess what I am trying to do is get us men to take a hard look at ourselves”. Filmmaker Byron Hurt 

    Byron Hurt Press Release.pdf

    Posted Oct 02 2008, 11:29 AM by edominguez with no comments
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  • COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TO CO-SPONSOR THE 1ST MENTAL HEALTH LAW CONFERENCE

    Training will help local private attorneys and case workers improve their services to individuals with mental health issues in our community             The El Paso County Attorney’s Office, along with the District Attorney and Public Defender Offices will be organizing the 1st Annual El Paso County Mental Health Law Conference on Friday September 26, 2008 at the County Courthouse.             The conference provides an opportunity for local lawyers, case workers, and interested citizens to learn more about legal issues surrounding mental health patients.             Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experts on a wide variety of topics including Criminal Incompetency, Involuntary Commitments, and Ethics representing the mentally ill. They will also have the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion with several local judges, law enforcement representatives and Garry Larcenaire, CEO of the agency Mental Health Mental Retardation.  

    Attending attorneys will be eligible to receive 5 free credit-hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and 1 free credit-hour of Ethics.

     

    First Assistant County Attorney JoAnne Bernal explained this conference will allow participants to become more proficient in dealing with legal issues regarding the mentally ill, thus providing better services to this particular segment of the population.

     

                “Mental Health law is a very specialized field, and our community needs competent attorneys who can protect the rights and integrity of individuals with mental illnesses. We believe offering this type of training in our community at no cost is the way we can contribute to improve the quality of life of our residents,” Bernal said.

       WHO:       County Attorney