Starr County sheriff's investigator suspended over night hunt

The Starr County sheriff suspended one of his investigators who was arrested for poaching deer using an unmarked county vehicle Sunday night.

Wardens with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department arrested Investigator Javier Peña and three others for hunting deer alongside the road at night.

Hunting at night is illegal and is considered poaching, said Capt. Fernando Cervantes of the Parks and Wildlife Department. Cervantes did not release the names of the four people, but Capt. Larry Fuentes of the Sheriff’s Office confirmed Peña had been arrested and suspended.

Fuentes said Peña had been booked in the Starr County Jail, but made bail. Peña has been with the Sheriff’s Office for about 10 years, Fuentes said.

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Monitor staff writer Gail Burkhardt compiled this report.