Erath County grand jury indicts man on 4 counts of human smuggling.
A 39-year-old man has been indicted by an Erath County grand jury for human smuggling.
Carlos Andres Hernandez was arrested March 15 in Stephenville and is being held at the Erath County Jail.
The following is a narrative by the Stephenville police officer who arrested Hernandez:
“I observed the vehicle in the 100 block of W. Lingleville, and the vehicle pulled into DJ's supermarket.
“As I approached the vehicle, I contacted Carlos Hernandez who was in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. I observed the vehicle to have 11 occupants wearing dark colored clothing, all vehicle occupants were Hispanic and not wearing seatbelts.
“I asked Hernandez who all the occupants were and he stated they were all his family, and they had come from Houston, stayed in the area for a couple of weeks and were returning to Houston.
“This did not make sense as there was no luggage and far too many occupants. After speaking with occupants of the car they denied being family with Hernandez and explained they were picked up at an unknown location a few hours away.
“The driver of the vehicle was identified as Carlos Giron Payes (He will be referred to as Giron) who stated he did not know where he was going or what he was doing but Hernandez handed him a GPS and told him to drive to the location.
“Giron stated Hernandez was not paying him, but he was out of work at the time.
“Hernandez consented to a search of his person and a pipe with a usable amount of meth was located in his pocket. Hernandez consented to a search of his phone it was found through a social media app called ‘WhatsApp’ that Hernandez was being paid money to drive the vehicle occupants to a predetermined location.
“Hernandez and Giron were placed under arrest for 9 counts of Smuggling of Persons for Pecuniary Value as Giron was operating the motor vehicle.”
Hernandez, who has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2001, was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Over the years he has also been charged with several counts of driving while intoxicated, public intoxication, assault and possession.
Others indicted include:
• Zane Anthony Calhoun for possession of a substance, a third degree felony.
• James Mark Jokel for possession of a substance and criminal mischief, both state jail felonies.
• Ryan Lee Peacock for driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, a third degree felony.
• Johnny Sanchez for possession of a substance, a third degree felony.
• Amanda Bessie Scroggins for assault on a public servant, a third degree felony.
• Hector Najera Serrano for possession of a substance, a third degree felony.
• Tyndall Kathleen Martinez for DWI 3rd or More, a third degree felony.
• Manuel Ignacio Vargas for driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, a third degree felony.
• Sarah Ann White for possession of a substance, a state jail felony.
• Treva Dee Wright for theft of property (from elderly individual), a third degree felony.
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