Starr County bondsmen arrested in connection with theft scheme

RIO GRANDE CITY — For $800, "M. Zuniga" thought his legal troubles were resolved.

The Starr County man told police he paid Home Town Bail Bonds two payments of $400 to take care of sequential arrests for public intoxication in Rio Grande City - even though in both cases, Zuniga was released by a magistrate on personal recognizance bonds.

"He was charged for services he didn't need," said Noe Castillo, assistant chief of Rio Grande City police. "He didn't have to pay anything to get out (of jail)."

A few months later, the man said, he was shocked to find that Rio Grande City Municipal Court had issued an arrest warrant for him because he failed to appear for a hearing.

"At that time, he approached the municipal court," said County Attorney Victor Canales. "He thought everything had been taken care of, but it hadn't."

The bail bondsmen, Ruben Rodriguez and former Rio Grande City municipal judge Arnulfo Garcia, were arrested and charged with theft this week.

Rio Grande City police did not release Zuniga's first name or age Thursday.

Canales said he is looking into allegations that Rodriguez and Garcia, in addition to promising to finesse the justice system on Zuniga's behalf, also pulled strings to get the man before a La Grulla city magistrate rather than Rio Grande City's.

Garcia was Rio Grande City's primary municipal judge until January 2008, when he was placed on administrative leave and then removed by the City Council over allegations he gave a low bond to a local woman accused of confining a 15-year-old undocumented immigrant.

He was replaced by Leo Lopez, a political ally of the council's majority members.

The Monitor requested comment from Garcia through one of his close friends Thursday after being unable to find a working phone number for him. He did not respond.

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Sara Perkins covers Mission, western Hidalgo County, Starr County and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4472.