Top El Paso Area Local News Stories
Source: MedleyStory
A man crashed into a utility pole Thursday morning after turning too quickly off Vista Del Sol Drive onto George Dieter Drive.
Although the driver's vehicle was damaged, no injuries were reported.
Witnesses who called the police said the man lost control of the wheel during the turn.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:22:21 -0700
Las Cruces and the New Mexico State police departments are investigating a head on collision where two people were killed.
The accident involved two pickup trucks that were traveling in opposite directions. One truck drifted in the other lane hitting the other truck head on.
The driver of the Chevy pickup was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of a Toyota was taken to the hospital where he later died.
The eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. Highway 70 were shut down near Del Rey. Those driving in the area were asked to avoid the area altogether.
The names of the drivers have not been released.
Stay with KFOX 14 for all the latest updates.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:22:02 -0700
A border patrol agent was injured after he was struck by a tractor-trailer while searching for an illegal immigrant.
It happened on the Cesar Chavez Highway, in El Paso, Wednesday night.
Police said the driver didn't see the agent because of his dark clothing. He was taken to the hospital where he is in stable condition.
Police made an arrest the case, but there's no word on whether the arrest were related to the crash or if they caught up with the illegal immigrant.
The agent's name and the name of the driver have not been released.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:16:49 -0700
El Paso's Project BRAVO finds itself short-staffed after a big turnout.
More than eight hours before Project BRAVO opened its doors, a dozen people were already camping out making sure they didn't get turned away.
That's because they knew Project BRAVO only had some 21 applications for assistance to give away when the doors opened at 8:30 a.m.
One man said he was only two spots away from his electricity bill being paid Wednesday morning.
"I don't care what I have to do. I'll come as early as I can and I have to be number one. It's not going to happen to me again," said Albert Chavez from Fabens.
Chavez took matter into his own hands and began collecting names as people arrived so there wouldn’t be any cuts or arguments.
Some said they were desperate to get help because they didn't want their electricity to be cut off.
"I'm a single mother with kids and I have a car payment. The electric bills are too high," said Teresita Aguilar from Socorro.
Chavez said he has been disabled for some time and hasn't been able to work. "I can't get a job because I'm diabetic. So who's going to pay my bills? So I have to do this."
Project BRAVO told them not to camp out, but they still brought their lawn chairs, blankets and winter wear to keep them warm through the cold night.
"There was one-hundred and forty-three people out here," said Aguilar.
For some, it's not their first time with Project Bravo. But this is the first time they have seen such a big need for help.
"It's their job, economy – the way it is. People are not making it anymore. They're not making it. I barely make it," added Aguilar.
Those waiting said their time in the cold was worth it. Right before the doors opened, applicants said Project BRAVO workers told them only 30 applications would be accepted.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:13:14 -0700
Alorica, a customer management company announced Wednesday they are hiring over 400 call center positions in El Paso.
The positions are full-time and for customer service roles and sale positions.
The company will be filling the positions immediately and will be participating in a job fair with local Workforce Solutions to make offers on the spot.
The job fair will be held on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Workforce Solutions Center on Lomaland in east El Paso.
For more information visit http://www.alorica.com
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:28:44 -0700
Dr. Terri Jordan, the interim superintendent of the El Paso Independent School District will remain on the job until further notice.
The school board made that decision in Tuesday night’s board meeting and also decided not to conduct a search for a new superintendent prior to Sept 1, at which time the board will reevaluate the service of Dr. Jordan.
Jordan took over as interim superintendent of EPISD after Lorenzo Garcia was indicted on federal charges of fraud and corruption in August of 2011.
Garcia is accused of working to steer a $450,000 no bid dollar contract to a Houston company about a month after he took over as superintendent.
Garcia stepped down in November.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:18:36 -0700
Ice Castles Too Learning Center has eight days left until the day care owes $40,000 towards a fine incurred from missing I-9 forms.
In July of 2009, Alejandrina and Raul Delgado, owners of Ice Castles, were approached by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent asking about I-9 forms. I-9 forms are used to verify the employment eligibility of employees and track any civil or criminal restrictions. Although the couple did not have the I-9 form required for every employee, they did have the information required on the form, but the lack of an I-9 form is worth a heavy fine. The day care was originally slapped with a $179,000 fine, but it was eventually lowered to $40,000 because ICE didn't find any violations in it's audit of the daycare center, according to the Delgados.
The $40,000 is due Feb. 23 and the Delgados have reached out to a variety of sources to intervene. They wrote to local Congressman Silvestre Reyes asking him to launch an investigation into the I-9 enforcement, and they've also petitioned ICE to let them pay the fine $1,000 at a time to prevent further harm to their business.
"if they make me do it that's fine, but I'm not going to stop here," said Alejandrina Delgado. "We're not illiterates, we know our rights, and we're going to continue to push this because that's not fair."
Congressman Reyes sent this statement to KFOX regarding the plea for a congressional investigation:
"I am committed to helping all constituents of the 16th Congressional District of Texas with any federal issue and federal agencies. The office will continue to work with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and the Delgado family regarding this matter. In addition, I will work with the local business community to raise awareness about the I-9 form and compliance process. Should any member of the community need information, please feel free to contact my office at 915-534-4400 or visit my website at www.reyes.house.gov."
Leticia Zamarripa, public affairs officer for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in El Paso, said part of the Delgado's frustration comes from a misunderstanding of the process.
"When you get a speeding ticket, the police officer may give you a fine, but you don't pay the fine to the police department," said Zamarripa, noting that Burlington Finance Center handles the actual monetary fines for ICE. "You'd have to go to court to debate the fine. You also can't pay that fine in several payments."
The Delgados also said they felt the fine was so high because ICE suspected the day care had money due to its success.
"They were asking about our finances when they were investigating the I-9 forms and I kept telling them, 'that's not relevant to the supposed crime,'" Delgado said.
The couple said they'd pay the fine if they had to but not a cent more than required, which may take a loan, but the Delgados say they will not close the daycare.
"We have to keep this business going," said Delgado. "Because all these parents depend on us, and all of these children."
Ice Castles Too Learning Center employs 60 people and serves about 200 children.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:28:50 -0700
A mother accused of killing her daughter in 2010 is claiming she was insane, according to defense attorney Gary Mitchell.
Jessica Barron was 27 years old at the time she was charged with beating her 5-year-old daughter Angel Jemenez to death in June 2010.
Angel had broken bones and bruises all over her body when she was first brought to the hospital and died of internal bleeding because of her injuries.
"She suffered a lot before she died," Angel's paternal grandmother Ramona Espino said. "She was in the hospital with a broken leg. I asked Jessica what happened to her leg and she told me she was just clumsy."
Espino still keeps a photograph of her granddaughter close by her in her home.
"She was a very sweet girl," Espino said. "She was very beautiful."
Espino said that she believes that Barron deliberately and knowingly hurt her daughter.
"It would be justice for the authorities to put her away because I don't think it's fair for a mother to kill her daughter," Espino said.
Barron is charged with child abuse resulting in death and tampering with evidence.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:47:04 -0700
Neighbors who watched Texas Rangers and FBI agents raid the home of Anthony, Texas Mayor Art Franco Tuesday evening said the raid came out of nowhere.
"I knew the mayor lived there," said Armando Vargas, who works at a car dealership a couple buildings down from Franco's home. "But I was surprised to see the law enforcement going in. I don't know why they needed to search his house."
Ana Hererra was just leaving Rosa's Beauty Salon, which is catty-corner from the house, said all the agents were wearing gloves and weren't talking to anyone but each other.
An anonymous source called KFOX 14 and said the investigation has been ongoing for more than a year. The man alleged the city's books were unbalanced, but Franco said Tuesday that was not the case.
"The investigation started back when I ran for mayor in 2011," said Franco. "I feel that when everything is finished and done, everything will be fine."
The Texas Rangers have not commented on the raid, but has confirmed the investigation is ongoing.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:39:50 -0700
Another KFOX14 viewer has come forward saying local construction company, J & V Construction, has cheated him out of thousands of dollars of work.
KFOX 14 has uncovered that company that isn't registered with the city to get permits to do any work.
“First it took him almost a month to get out here and get it done," said Chris Bradley of northeast El Paso.
Bradley said it cost him nearly $3,000 to get concrete poured along the side of the home, but he said in the end it wasn't done right.
"It started cracking the first day, flaking," said Bradley.
He said he hired a man known to him only as "Ray."
Bradley was watching KFOX 14 last week when he recognized Ray from a story in which KFOX 14 introduced you to the same man, who was known to us as Victor Hicks.
The property owner who rents a space to J & V Construction said the man's name is "Javier."
"Ray, all I know is his first name," said one potential client of the construction company.
People who know the man from the video KFOX 14 aired last week said he's given them different names.
After KFOX 14 called and waited for the man, he finally called back Wednesday evening.
"This is Victor," he said.
He insists his name is Victor Hicks and that he isn't using different names. He said Javier is another employee, but didn't mention a Ray.
Bradley said whatever his name is, he's certain he's using different business names.
"This is the only company that I have," said Hicks.
The door on J & V Construction and several flyers with other business names all have the same number that Hicks called from.
"P & N? I don't know what P & N is," said Hicks.
"Watch out for that guy. Look at the interview. You had his face on camera. People need to see that face. This guy's a compulsive liar," said Bradley.
KFOX 14 spoke with city officials to see what name permits were being pulled under.
"Wow! They have not renewed their registration since 1995," said Victor Morrison-Vega from the city of El Paso. "They have to register with us to pull a permit."
KFOX 14 asked Hicks how J & V Construction does any work.
"I'm not going to continue talking about this. We did not need a permit with Marrufo," said Hicks.
Morrison-Vega said permits aren't needed for small jobs. The first man who complained Hicks left him hanging with unfinished work, Alex Marrufo, paid through finance $10,000.
Morrison-Vega said while the city doesn't base need for permits by monetary amount, he said the large dollar amount would be a red flag that a permit would be needed.
"We also have a legitimate contractor that's licensed that goes and pull the permits for us," said Hicks. "I'm not going to give you the contractor's name."
Morrison-Vega said if it is true that Hicks is using deceptive business practices, it is up to the homeowners to take the first step.
“In this particular case, it's going to have to fall on the property owner to say, 'Hey, I want to file a complaint.' That's generally how we get the legal process involved," said Morrison-Vega.
Marrufo said he will file that complaint this week in hopes that Hicks will finally be shut down for good.
The city said they are looking to change the way permits are given. Right now, a company registers and sends a list of names of people that can pull a permit for that company.
“They'll have to send not only the name, but an ID," said Morrison-Vega.
That change in ordinance goes before the El Paso City Council Tuesday. If approved, the changes could go into effect as early as next Friday.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:34:37 -0700
A woman who did not want to be identified told KFOX14 News how a SWAT team standoff started Monday.
"You could tell he had a rifle," the woman said. She said Glenn Sanderson, 53, tried to get inside her home.
"(He was yelling) “Let me in. Let me in!” and screaming at me, like all crazy," the woman said. She called police. Sanderson locked himself inside of his own house. That’s when the standoff ensued.
Sanderson, a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, is off of his medication, according to his sister, Peggy Penalber. Penalber said he’s also not attending his court-ordered outpatient program.
"Family's of schizophrenics cannot force them to be hospitalized or even take their medications," Penalber said. She’s frustrated because Adult Protective Services and MHMR have evaluated Sanderson and then let him go.
APS Spokesperson Paul Zimmerman said it takes a court order for a mentally ill person to be committed to a Psychiatric Center.
"The tricky part is that evaluations are made in windows of time and mental health fluctuates," Zimmerman said.
That means someone who seems like a threat one day, might be evaluated while they seem okay.
"If somebody is acting calm and rational, and they don't appear to be posing a threat to themselves or others, the psych center has to let them go," Zimmerman said.
Sanderson’s neighbor said she’s felt terrorized for years.
"He's come up while I'm doing dishes or something. I’ll look up and he's standing in front of my window," the woman said. "He's threatened us several times, that he's going to kill us and burn us alive. He even assaulted my husband one time."
The thought of Sanderson being released motivated this woman to file a protective order against him on Tuesday.
Sanderson is being held on a $20,000 bond and Penalber said the family has no intention of bailing him out.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:44:49 -0700
Motorcyclists are invited to take a free safety course Saturday.
The El Paso Police Department offers a motorcycle safety course every third Saturday of each month.
For those interested, the class is held at Edge Kawasaki located at 10310 Montana Avenue.
The course starts at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To sign up for the class, those interested in participating should call the El Paso Police Department's Traffic Safety Coordinator, Margaret Petrozza at 915.564.7352 or Edge Kawasaki at 915.593.1024.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:36:44 -0700
For the seventh straight year, participating IHOP restaurants will give a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes to each guest on National Pancake Day, Tuesday Feb. 28 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Last year, IHOP served four million free pancakes on National Pancake Day 2011 resulting in more than $2.5 million in donations to children's charities. For every short stack of pancakes served on that day, IHOP guests are invited to make a voluntary donation to raise funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children and other local charities.
IHOP's goal is to raise more than $2.7 million in donations this year, which would bring their total amount of funds raised to over $10 million.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:12:01 -0700
Roberto Angel Cardona, aka "Little Angelillo," was sentenced to life in prison Feb. 14 for participation in a racketeering conspiracy, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman for the Western District of Texas, FBI Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigative Division Kevin Perkins and Administrator Michele M. Leonhart of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Cardona, who pleaded guilty on Aug. 2, 2011, was the El Paso Barrio Azteca gang leader until he was arrested for drug charges April 30, 2010, according to testimony presented during the sentencing.
"This sentence reflects the severity of Roberto Cardona's crimes as a leader of the brutal Barrio Azteca gang, as well as his individual acts of violence and drug trafficking," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "On both sides of the border, Barrio Azteca gang members use violence, intimidation and fear to further their illegal activities. Lengthy prison sentences are an appropriate consequence and should cause would-be gang members to think twice about participating in such destructive activities."
The court also found that Cardona's offense involved more than 30 kilograms of heroin and 150 kilograms of cocaine. He directly imported large quantities of these drugs and sold them to retail drug dealers.
Cardona also participated in the BA's activities by distributing narcotics, including heroin and cocaine. He collected extortion funds that were sent to the commissary accounts of fellow BA members in prison.
A witness testified that Cardona would order beatings of other BA gang members and assaulted a drug dealer who would not pay extortion money. Other witness testimonies reported that members of the gang carried guns at meetings and used weapons in the course of violence.
One witness testified that he was contacted by Cardona in order to conduct extortions, assaults and kidnappings. One particular incident concerned the kidnapping of someone in El Paso to be delivered to Ciudad Juarez. The witness was arranged to meet the victim, assault, drug and blind him before transporting the victim to Juarez, the testimony reported.
"This sentence is a powerful step taken against trans-border violence, one that the FBI's El Paso Field Office has taken with partners at the federal, state and local levels," said FBI Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigative Division Kevin Perkins. "Gangs like the Barrio Azteca represent threats to both Mexico and the United States, and together we have supported each other to investigate and prosecute criminals who affect us on both sides of the border."
Members of the gang took part in a multitude of criminal activity committed since Jan. 1, 2003 including drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering, according to court documents and testimony. The crimes include the March 13, 2010 murders in Juarez of U.S. consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton, her husband Arthur Redelfs and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of a U.S. consulate employee.
Thirty-five members and associates of the BA gang, including Cardona and 18 others who have pleaded guilty, were charged in a third superseding indictment unsealed in March 2011 with various counts of racketeering, murder, drug offenses, money laundering and obstruction of justice. Trial is set to begin April 6, 2012.
The Barrio Azteca gang began as a violent prison gang in the late 1980s before expanding into a transnational criminal organization, according to court documents and testimony.
The gang is primarily based in West Texas and Juarez, Mexico as well as throughout state and federal prisons in both countries.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:20:09 -0700
Deputies are investigating a crash where a truck was hit by a train in Dona Ana County Wednesday morning.
Sheriff's deputies said the crash happened after 4 a.m. near Pedro Madrid Road, just north of Thorpe Road.
The driver of the truck was traveling southbound on Dona Ana Road when deputies said he lost control and rolled onto the railroad tracks.
Before the train arrived, the driver escaped, said deputies.
The man, who hasn't been identified, was taken to an area hospital with unknown injuries.
Traffic in the area was restored by 10:15 a.m.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:14:36 -0700
The state's division over redistricting has forced a panel of U.S. district judges to push back the Texas primary.
The date had already been taken off of the calendar for next month's Super Tuesday primaries and pushed to April 3. The judges have decided that it is impossible to preserve the spring date and would like to hold the Texas primaries on May 22.
"Even though Texas is a red state, I still think every little bit counts," said Steven Rodriguez, who is a Democrat and thinks it's important for Texas to have a voice sooner rather than later.
"Taking that away would have a big impact," said Rodriguez.
But several Texas representatives and judges disagree with him. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez at one point suggested that a later date, like June 26, would make more sense. If held in the summer, the primary could reflect any voting rights acts and changes in the district maps.
The judges also suggested two separate primaries, which would mean adding an additional cost to the state budget.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:11:40 -0700
The Texas Rangers raided the home of Anthony, Texas, mayor, Art Franco on Tuesday. The FBI said it assisted with the investigation. The Department of Public Safety would only say that it is investigating Franco, but it won’t say why.
Franco told KFOX14 News that he’s confident that everything will turn out OK. He also wouldn’t say what the investigation was about.
“This started back when I ran for mayor last year,” Franco said. “It’s an ongoing investigation.”
KFOX14 News found out through a source that the investigation may have to do with misappropriations of funds and credit card abuse.
Franco said he spent Tuesday evening at a city council meeting.
"The council is behind me,” Franco said. “Hopefully the people are still behind me too."
Texas DPS said there has not been any arrest so far in this case.
If you have a story that you feel deserves media attention, contact Ric Dupont at ric.dupont@kfoxtv.com.
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:20:59 -0700
Empty and abandoned, a so-called eyesore on El Paso's west side is getting demolished.
Bulldozers were busy Tuesday tearing down the old Coronado Motel.
There is no word on what the developer will do with the land once the motel is leveled.
The city shut it down months ago after finding multiple violations.
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:52:35 -0700
Teen pregnancy is not a new problem in our community, but one that various state and federal agencies continue pouring millions of dollars a year into to stop. Yet El Paso teens continue to get pregnant at a higher rate than the rest of the state.
"Everybody says it's not going to happen because I was like that but it really does happen," said Amber Fuentes, who had her son, Christopher, when she was 17 and a high school dropout.
"I have nobody to give me money, I don't live with my parents and I have to go to school and I work and I still have a baby and it takes up all of your time," said Fuentes.
And it continues to happen all over El Paso. Seventy-nine out of every 1,000 teens in El Paso are pregnant. The state average if 65.
"When it comes down to it, we can provide all sorts of instruction, but tragically, when you're looking at issue of being together and alone who knows how the child is going to respond," said Tejas School of Choice Principal Juan Contreras. "There are no excuses and failure is not an option."
Tejas has teen parent programs that provide everything from day care to rides to school.
Having her son made Fuentes realize she had to go back to school, so she enrolled at Tejas, where many of El Paso's pregnant teens go to catch up and graudate---teens like Elizabeth Rivera, 17, who is a mother to 4-month-old Elias.
"It was pretty much hard to tell my mom, because I didn't know how she was going to react. I didn't know what to do," said Rivera. She said she was too afraid to ask her mom about birth control even though she was having regular sex with Elia's father.
Despite the fact that she, like most El Paso teens get abstinence-plus education in school, which means they are taught abstinence but also learn about birth control and condoms, but the teens we met said when it comes to sex ed, no one's really paying attention.
"I thought it was funny, I wasn't really used to talking about sex stuff and condoms, so it was kind of like a joke to me," said Valeria Delarosa, a teen mom pregnant with her second baby.
El Paso's high teen pregnancy rate has lasted several years, despite growing local and state efforts to bring those numbers down. There are teen pregnancy centers all around the city that help with birth control.
The teens we met, however, said those places are mostly where kids go once they're already pregnant.
"I don't think teens really take advantage of the programs, They just don't know what can happen or what's to come. They don't know how hard it is, "said Fuentes.
Jose Castrellon is the director of Catholic Counseling Services, which counsels pregnant teens and their families.
" The parents are not taking a sufficient responsibility in it and leaving it up to schools, yet they complain that the schools are teaching them something they might not like," said Castrellon.
He said even in El Paso's mostly Catholic households, sex ed needs to be a part of the conversation.
"It starts at home. We need to have conversations about dignity; that dignity includes all of their gifts and sexuality is just one of those gifts," said Castrellon.
But whether a parental issue or a societal one, the students I spoke with said the outcome for them was all the same. "
" It sounds bad, but sometimes they just need to experience it on their own to learn, " said Delarosa.
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:14:58 -0700
The grandfather of the New Mexico State University student accused of threatening firefighters and trying to pepper-spray students on campus told KFOX14 that the man did it all because he was grieving the death of an ex-girlfriend.
"He's not feeling too good," Ruben Salais said. "His girlfriend died Jan. 4 and so he took it real hard."
Jason Salais, 25, is facing three fourth-degree felony counts and two petty misdemeanors. Police tracked the NMSU student down after he was arrested after a scuffle on campus in which he allegedly tried to pepper-spray people in front of the Corbett Center Student Union.
Police said before the incident at NMSU happened, Salais was outside his Gladys Drive home when he pointed what looked like a handgun at firefighters before following after them in his car.
Ruben Salais said that it wasn't an actual gun, but a toy.
"It was a black handgun," Las Cruces police spokesperson Dan Trujillo said. "Firefighters described it as a black handgun and that happens to be the same type of handgun that we found inside the center console of the vehicle he was driving."
Jason Salais is a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty to charges in 2007 for aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer.
Salais is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, along with disorderly conduct and causing a public affray.
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:59:16 -0700
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