By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Mayor Joe H. Hernandez
A former San Benito City Commissioner filed a police report on Tuesday, alleging that San Benito Mayor Joe H. Hernandez threatened to burn down his house and cause bodily harm to both the alleged victim and another individual.
According to the report, Ricardo R. Rodriguez, who served as commissioner from 1975-1979, allegedly witnessed Hernandez sitting inside a pickup truck parked outside of Rodriguez’s San Benito residence at 270 Yoakum during the late morning of October 27. Rodriguez reportedly addressed Hernandez by saying, “Hey, Joe. What’s going on, and why are you taking pictures?”
Rodriguez is accusing the mayor of making terroristic threats, not only against Rodriguez but also against Alfonso Benavides, who filed an ethics complaint against Hernandez on January 20 of this year that later become known as the raspagate scandal. Said scandal also led to Hernandez’s recent indictment for abuse of official capacity.
A statement in the police report filed by Rodriguez on Tuesday, November 6, stated, “Hernandez then said, ‘I’m gonna get rid of you and Benavides, and I’m gonna burn you out of your houses after I’m through with what’s going on with me (indictment).’”
In response to the accusations, Hernandez said, “Rodriguez is part of a group that has always been against me. Just because I stopped in front of a house doesn’t mean [said allegations] are true. Everything they’re saying is false.”
The mayor turned himself in to Cameron County officials on the morning of October 23 and currently faces third degree felony charges. The charges against Hernandez include the following: “39.02 (a) (1), which is defined as abuse of official capacity; and 37.09 (d) (2), depicted as tampering or fabricating with physical evidence….”
Acknowledging the seriousness of his current legal woes, Hernandez said on November 6, “Do you think I would be trying to get myself in deeper after what I’m already dealing with?”
Rodriguez has identified at least one witness who can allegedly corroborate the former commissioner’s claims and confirm that the mayor was showing photographs he had taken of Rodriguez’s house; however, at this time no such witnesses have emerged.
“If there’s a witness,” said Hernandez, “then let him come forward.”
Furthermore, Hernandez spoke to the accusations against his character. He said, “I’m tired of people slandering me. If they don’t stop, I have no other choice but to press charges… These are strong accusations, and I’m taking them personally.”
Since an investigation into these allegations might prove difficult given the he said, she said nature of the accusations, Michael Galvan, Assistant Chief of Operations for the San Benito Police Department, said, “To be responsible, we’ll take the man’s statement and get a statement from the mayor. We’ll submit everything to the DA’s office and see what they want to do.”
Hernandez was adamant that “The charges are false, uncalled for.”
If the allegations are proven untrue, Rodriguez could be looking at misdemeanor charges for filing a false report with police. Galvan said, “If someone causes any kind of investigation to be started, based on false information, it is an arrestable offense.”
13 comments
Skip to comment form
Intimidating a witness is nothing funny and a direct abuse of power if the mayor is using this tactic to scare anybody who is a friend to the person who has filed charges against him. Why would a person be taking pictures of a house? Was it because he heard that his accuser was living there? Maybe more serious charges such as intimidating a witness are in store. Vendetta against Joe, please. Joe only knows vendetta because he is such a small man in mentality. Instead of working for the betterment of San Benito, he is avenging all those that opposed him. All who support deserve the kind of city we have= a poor one.
I believe Mr. Rodriguez has now filed an official complaint, and we will have to see what happens.
Stalking is a very serious thing. Making threats against people should be taken seriously as well. If Mr. Rodriguez has further proof it will come out.
Ms. Cacazos, is it also your opinion that the little man did some vendetta’s of his own, only at your expense (taxpayer). When he failed to pay his taxes and the city charter is followed, he cries foul and sues the city. It cost the taxpayers $30,000 but Little man could not admit that the violated the city charter. Then he loses, he runs again for mayor and wins with help from shallow people like yourself. He then goes on a vendetta binge. First, it is the lawyer, then its citizens who voted against him and are on boards in the city. He ousts them before their times expire, he again at taxpayers expense wants Jack Garcia’s name removed from a plaque. Do you get the picture? A mayor with so much work to do for a better city is wasting time trying to remove a name from a plaque! How shallow you and Mr. Hernandez are!!! Maybe the city deserves more of your kind so we can be the laughing stock of the valley.
i completely agree with you Cindy. great point – “Mr. Rodriguez if the Mayor did do what you are accusing him of, then go and do what you need to do.”
dont be like everybody else, whining and pointing back and forth. it gets nowhere. it reminds me of junior high punks who want to fight but don’t have the guts to so they just raise their voices your momma this and your grandma that and point here and there and you’re number one but no guts to actually fight and get someone resolved.
if you gotta problem, take care of it. don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk.
in reference to ESPN Monday Night Countdown:
like Mike Ditka says – STOP IT
like Cris Carter says – COM’ ON MAN!
are you really going to question why he stopped? it’s irrelevant. it could have been because a puppy was crossing the street, he was checking out a hot woman passing watering the plants, poking his nose, looking at someone’s house, it doesn’t matter. analyzing every single thing. is this what it has come down to? talk about a fish that took the bait and got hooked. eat it up! some people just love to comment and instigate and go back and forth. it’s all pointless and gets nowhere.
my question is for everyone that wants Hernandez out – who is going to replace him? hopefully someone new? with integrity? with ethics? with morals? San Benito had a chance once to replace him and chose Jack Garcia. As bad as Joe may be, Jack is ten times worse. so if the city wants Hernandez out, at least find a better replacement. and if you cant, then this process will continue on and on over and over and the city will never get anywhere.
we have a gold mine of land that needs to be planned and developed so that the city can generate income but nobody to lead the city. a bunch of indians pointing and yelling back and forth. thats the easiest job. the hard job is to find a suitable chief. hopefully san benito does.
All I know is that Mr. Rodriguez is a very nice man and would I believe him. Why is Joe out in front of Mr. R’s house taking pictures? Strange behavior.
It may all come down to the credibility of Mr. R’s witnesses.
Come on joe now this I see your face in the news more than the weekly weather I suggest u take a break from office and let things cool down and then maybe running again for mayor in the future cause all this that is happening with u is hurting San Benito it’s dividing us into two groups and it should be that way we should stand together as a unit to show people that San Benito is a good place to raise your children also can u please try to fix this problems with the newer generation try to show them what a mayor should be like and stop the stealing and assaults and violence and most important the drugs San Benito was never this bad so please joe I ask u either get with the program or we will have to select another mayor it’s all in your hands joe do the right thing not only for your family but for San Benito Texas
Ms Cacazos (I am not touching that 1), seriously, payback’s & vendetta’s? The Little Man you are defending has cast upon himself quite a reputation as one who goes after people that are not in zinc with his agenda. And as SBFAN44 points out, what has he done for our city, besides tarnishing our name. Did u notice that when he was interviewed by the media, he NEVER denied being in front of Rodriguez’s house? Where there is smoke there is fire!!!!
All this is getting out of control, Mr. Rodriguez if the Mayor did do what you are accusing him of, then go and do what you need to do. Don’t just throw accusations without any prove, if mayor Hernandez wants he can sue you for slander,since it’s only your word and we all know how good that is. I saw the way you would behave at the early voting and let me tell you, that you are rude and have no manners. I is my opinion that all this is payback and part of the vendetta, certain people around town are doing , but that’s only my opinion.
This is getting very embarrassing for San Benito!
Hernandez has got to go! Why people continue to support him in office is beyond me!? I mean even if you take away all the conterversy surround this mayor he is doing a terrible job in office. San Benito stays behind while the rest of the valley continues to move foward and grow.
From “King” to “Little Man” ?! Ha! Mr. Hernandez has a long road up ahead. I want to feel sorry for him, I really do but he did this to himself. One too many incidents involving him is enough.
Ohhhhh, so the little man is tired of him being slandered! Well, how about all the chisme that occurs at his chisme shop! Why doesn’t that stop? Lol
But the Little Man admits he was “stopped in front of a house”, but does not elaborate on why he was in front of the ex commissioners house. I personally don’t think Rodriguez would take the time to file a false police report if said incident didn’t transpire. This mayor needs to resign!!!