On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, Uvalde Leader-News reported that Uvalde Municipal Court Judge Richard O. Gonzales, 76, was arrested along with his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to the article, Judge Gonzales had allowed law enforcement to enter his home to serve indictments related to his grandson, 30-year-old Anthony Xavier Gonzales. Upon entering, officers discovered grams of marijuana and other controlled substances in the grandson’s room.

Judge Gonzales, his daughter Cassandra Gonzales, her husband Mike Lugo, and Anthony Gonzalez were all arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance. Additionally, Anthony Gonzalez’s girlfriend Haley Raquel Ruiz, 23, was also arrested on drug possession charges.

Speaking to Uvalde Leader-News by phone, Judge Gonzales maintained his innocence. He stated that he was “devastated” by the arrest and cooperated fully with law enforcement. However, Gonzales said he was unaware of any drugs in his home. “I go to my office, I work all day. It’s sad, I didn’t know anything about any drugs,” Gonzales stated.

Judge Gonzales has hired attorney Rogelio M. Muñoz to represent him in the case. However, he expressed hope that the charges against him would be dropped. Gonzales’s arrest has also prompted the Uvalde City Council to discuss his employment status as a municipal court judge.

According to the article, Cassandra Gonzales and Mike Lugo were staying with the judge while searching for a new home in Uvalde. Judge Gonzales mentioned having attempted to help his grandson in the past but that things were not going well, so he recently asked Anthony to leave the home.

Additional context provided about Anthony Gonzales included multiple prior arrests. In 2023 alone, he was arrested three times on charges such as unlawfully carrying a weapon, engaging in organized criminal activity, and resisting arrest, as well as various drug offenses. He was also implicated in a 2019 shooting that occurred at his grandfather’s law office, where one person was killed.

After being booked into the Uvalde County Jail, Judge Gonzales was released on personal recognizance following a bond hearing. The judge has lived in Uvalde since 1985 and served as both the city attorney and municipal court prosecutor before being appointed judge in 2020.

 

 

Source: Uvalde Leader-News