By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Abelardo Huerta Munoz
Ignacio Montoya Jr.
San Benito police arrested a man and his teenage stepson for theft by possession stemming from an incident that occurred in January.
At approximately 9:02 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6, detectives with the San Benito Police Department arrived at the 1300 block of West Filmore in Harlingen to serve warrants for 18-year-old Ignacio Montoya, Jr. and his stepfather Abelardo Huerta Muñoz.
According to an SBPD news release, Montoya was arrested but his stepfather was not home. Detectives then arrived at Muñoz’ place of employment, located in Harlingen, and placed Muñoz under arrest.
It all started on January 26, when a 69-year-old woman alleged that a man had entered her home on the 1400 block of North Reagan in San Benito from an unsecured kitchen window and took the keys to her green 1998 Dodge Neon. Her cell phone was also taken, the release read.
Police further reported that the woman’s husband exited from the bathroom and reportedly saw a thin and bald Hispanic male drive away in his their vehicle.
On February 28, a Texas Department of Public Safety state trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding. The officer observed that the vehicle was being driven by Montoya. When the trooper questioned him as to where he had acquired the vehicle, it is reported that Montoya alleged that his stepfather had purchased it for $350 from an unknown man three weeks prior. San Benito police were notified and contact was made with Montoya’s stepfather.
Muñoz allegedly told police that he had purchased the vehicle from his nephew’s friend, whose name he did not know. Detectives called a number provided by Muñoz and spoke to a woman who claimed she did not recognize the name provided by Muñoz. Citing Montoya and Munoz as uncooperative, police obtained arrest warrants for the two men five days later.
Both men were arraigned by Justice of the Peace David Garza and each given a $5,000 bond. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents placed a detainer on Muñoz and he was transported to the Cameron County Carrizales Detention Center.
Read this story in the March 13 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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