La Villa mayor arrested
EDCOUCH — Officials arrested La Villa Mayor Hector Elizondo Monday morning on charges of soliciting a prostitute and official oppression as part of an ongoing investigation.
Elizondo was arraigned on two counts of official oppression and two counts of prostitution before Judge Placido Rodgriguez, who released him on a personal recognizance bond.
According to a criminal complaint, a woman said Elizondo supplied her with $10 worth of crack cocaine in exchange for sexual favors. Another woman said Elizondo paid her $30 for oral sex several times over the past year.
She told investigators that Elizondo threatened to have her arrested if she did not do what he asked of her.
More charges could be brought against Elizondo as the investigation continues, Police Chief Eloy Cardenas said.
Cardenas, police chief of both La Villa and Edcouch, said Elizondo was arrested in connection with the arrest of another person, also on Monday, stemming from narcotics and stolen property.“Others were arrested for cocaine,” he said. “There were several victims that have come forward in this case and were willing to help the investigation.”
In the Elizondo case, one woman who filed the criminal complaint said she had tried filing police reports in La Villa, but nothing was done.
“This entire situation all started before I was chief in La Villa,” Cardenas said. “I’ve been working with my staff to investigate this matter since I started in La Villa eight months ago.”
The mayor’s arrest came the same day that Cardenas was due in court for jury selection in his own trial on evidence tampering charges.
Hidalgo County sheriff’s deputies arrested the police chief in 2008, alleging he shot at his wife’s ex-husband as the man drove past his house and then buried casings from the incident in his yard. His trial is set to begin today.
Even though he remains under indictment for a felony crime, city leaders in Edcouch have allowed Cardenas to continue in his post. La Villa officials contracted with him to take over the department there.
Elizondo’s attorney Robert J. Salinas also said Monday he was shocked.
Salinas, La Villa city attorney, emphasized that he was not representing Elizondo as a city official but as an attorney in private practice.
“I’m doing this as his personal attorney,” he said.
During the arraignment Monday, the judge said he trusts that the mayor will not miss his court proceedings.
“I know him very well,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t like what he did, but I know he won’t try to leave the city.”
