Latest news with #ElPasoan
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'I'm done with guns.' El Paso man arrested with gun at 'No Kings' protest gets PR bond
An El Paso man accused of displaying a handgun in a vehicle while passing "No Kings" protesters was granted a personal recognizance bond by a magistrate judge. Michael Edward Abeyta, 47, was arrested on Saturday, June 14, after a quick response by the El Paso Police Department as hundreds of protesters demonstrated against what they said were the dictator-like politics of President Donald Trump. Similar coordinated "No Kings" protests took place in more than 2,100 cities and towns across the nation, including in nearby Las Cruces. Abeyta faces a charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor. He had been held on a $2,000 bond at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown since his arrest. Abeyta was to be released on Monday, June 16, after Magistrate Judge Antonio Aun granted him a personal recognizance, or PR, bond requiring no money, at a teleconference bond hearing that morning. As part of the terms of release, the judge prohibited Abeyta from possessing any weapons, firearms or ammunition while awaiting trial. "Yes, sir. I'm done with guns," Abeyta responded, before Aun cautioned him not to say anything that could be considered an admission that could be used in court. Police spokeswoman Detective Judy Oviedo said that the gun incident was the only arrest in what was otherwise a peaceful "No Kings" demonstration on a more-than-100-degree day in El Paso. Protesters waved signs at Edgemere Linear Park and along the sidewalks of Edgemere and Airway boulevards in East-Central El Paso. There was a police presence at the demonstration as a safety measure, stated a police news release issued by Sgt. Javier Sambrano. About 12:40 p.m., a police officer advised over the radio that an unknown man, later identified as the Abeyta, had a weapon inside a black Kia car traveling through the protest, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Lamberth said at the hearing. A protester had reported that the man was in the passenger seat of the car with an unholstered gun on top of the dashboard in plain view, Lamberth said. Abeyta allegedly admitted placing the gun on the dashboard after officers on bicycles stopped the car and found the gun on the floorboard, Lamberth said. "I know he thinks that somebody had kicked his car or done something to his car," Judge Aun commented, while questioning if pulling out a gun was the right thing to do. More: El Paso joins national protests against ICE raids and military deployment A social media video showed Abeyta wearing an orange T-shirt and camouflage shorts while being arrested. Jail records indicate that he was also booked on seven traffic warrants, which were later deemed "time served." Abeyta stated at the hearing that he resides on the East Side and is a lifelong El Pasoan, a legal permanent resident who was adopted from Mexico as a baby. Archives: El Paso man gets prison for racist video threat to kill Black Lives Matter protesters More than five million people across the nation are estimated to have participated in the largely peaceful protests, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, a coalition partner that organized the demonstrations, as reported by USA Today. The protests devolved into violence in some cities. Baton-wielding police clashed with protesters in downtown Los Angeles. A man intentionally drove an SUV into a crowd in Virginia, and a bystander was killed in a shooting in a confrontation between a man with a rifle and a peace-keeping team at a protest in Salt Lake City. Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@ and @BorundaDaniel on X. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso man gets PR bond in 'No Kings' protest gun arrest
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
'I will always be looking:' El Paso teens featured on missing children billboards
Jean Gabriel Benitez, then 16 years old, was last seen getting ready for school March 18, 2024, but when his mother arrived home, he was nowhere to be found. More than a year later, his mother, Karina Roman, continues her search for her son, hoping he is safe and will return home. She pleads for the community to help find her son. "About a year and two months ago, my son left the house and he never came back,' Roman said in Spanish as tears rolled down her face. 'We haven't heard anything. I left him in the morning as he was getting ready for school. I left to drop off my (other) son at school, when I came back, he wasn't at the house anymore. "We just want him to come back. We just want to know if he is okay." Benitez, who will turn 18 later this month, is one of two El Pasoans being highlighted on a monthlong digital billboard campaign. The billboards will be shown throughout El Paso in both English and Spanish. They are being posted as part of National Missing Children's Day by the Texas Center for the Missing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Clear Channel Outdoor, and the El Paso Police Department. National Missing Children's Day is May 25. The other missing El Pasoan being highlighted is Allison Garcia, now 17 years old. She left home Nov. 2, 2024, and never returned. Law enforcement authorities believed she could be in Mexico. Roman and her family have been suffering in agony as they search for Benitez, a former ROTC student at William H. Burges High School. The family has no idea why he left, where he could be or who he is with. "I love him very much," Roman said as she wiped away tears. "I have always been there for him and will always be there for him. I will always be looking for him. Doesn't matter what the situation was or whatever happened, my family and I just want to know that he is okay. We will be here if he needs anything. We will always be there for him." More: Where is Angel Marie Avalos? Pregnant teen disappeared 5 years ago in El Paso County Benitez, a 5 feet, 7 inches tall teen with brown eyes and brown hair, being featured on the billboards brings her hope that her son will be found and she can hug him again. She is pleading for the community's help to reunite her with her son. 'I feel a little more relieved that more people will be able to see him,' the heartbroken mother said as her younger son stood by her side. 'It is going to reach more people, and hopefully someone will see him or he himself will see it. It is very difficult. I am just hoping he is okay. Please if somebody knows something, reach out. "If anybody knows anything about him, please let us know, because it has been a long time and a year of agony." Missing-person bulletins in English and Spanish featuring Benitez and Garcia will be displayed about 1,000 times a day on billboards in El Paso for a month, said Eric Lucero, market manager for Clear Channel Outdoor. The billboard will be seen by 75 percent of El Pasoans traveling on Interstate 10 and other roads in the city, he added. About 17 missing children over the past several years have been found through the annual billboard campaign in El Paso, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, Lucero said. Missing children have been featured on billboards throughout Texas for more than a decade. More: Missing El Paso woman found after deputies sought public's help There were 44,783 people reported missing last year in Texas, with 31,864 being juveniles. In El Paso County, 1,109 juveniles and 280 adults were reported missing in 2024, the Texas Department of Public Safety Missing Persons Clearinghouse reported. Anyone with information on Benitez or Garcia is urged to call the El Paso Police Department at 915-832-4400. Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@ or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso mother hopes missing children billboard will help find son
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canutillo High School ‘mathlete' wins UIL state championship
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A Canutillo High School student won first place in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Calculator Applications Individual State Championship, according to Canutillo Independent School District. Matthew Medina, a senior at Canutillo High School, not only won the UIL 5A Calculator Applications Championship, but was also named valedictorian, MIT-bound scholar and a record-setting scholarship recipient, Canutillo ISD said. 'Matthew has had an outstanding year, both academically and in competition,' Canutillo High School Principal Candice Marrufo said. 'It's incredibly fitting that, after a phenomenal four-year career representing Canutillo in math competitions, he finishes his time as an Eagle with a state championship.' According to Canutillo ISD, Medina is the only student from El Paso to earn an academic UIL state title this year. In addition, Canutillo ISD said Medina is believed to be the fourth El Pasoan in over three decades to win a UIL state championship in a mathematics-related event. Medina will graduate from Canutillo High School as valedictorian for the Class of 2025 on May 30 at the Don Haskins Center. Medina will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has earned over $1.5 million in scholarships. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of El Paso appoints new chief information officer
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso has a new chief information officer. The City announced the appointment of Carolyn Patrick as the new chief information officer in a news release on Tuesday, May 20. 'A native El Pasoan and dedicated public servant, Carolyn brings more than 25 years of experience in information technology, having served in both federal and local government sectors,' the City said. She officially assumed her new role this week, the City said. As CIO, Carolyn will coordinate the City's 'broad and complex information technology operations' and serve as the principal expert adviser on strategic technological initiatives, infrastructure modernization, digital services, and innovation, the City said. Patrick has worked for the City since 2012 and has served in several key leadership roles, including IT operations program manager, project management office manager, assistant director of IT, and most recently, deputy chief information officer. 'Carolyn's deep technical expertise, commitment to service, and strong leadership make her an exceptional choice to lead our Information Technology team,' City Manager Dionne Mack said. 'Her strategic vision will help the City advance digital transformation and continue delivering reliable, secure, and innovative services to our community.' Patrick has a bachelor's degree in computer information systems and a master's degree in computer information resources. For more information about the City of El Paso's Department of Information Technology Services, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
82 people face trespassing charges for crossing into New Mexico military zone
Dozens were charged for unauthorized entry in New Mexico's new military zone along the southern border, officials said. A total of 82 people received Title 50 charges as of Thursday, May 1, for crossing into military defense property, a 170-square-mile strip along the base of New Mexico, also known as the Roosevelt Reservation, according to a news release by the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. The corridor was recently transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Defense and is now being treated as an extension of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachuca, the news release said. The land is subject to military patrols and surveillance, with "U.S. troops authorized to temporarily detain and transfer individuals to federal law enforcement for prosecution." Title 50 charges carry potential penalties of up to one year in prison, in addition to any other immigration-related offenses, the release noted. 'Trespassers into the National Defense Area will be Federally prosecuted—no exceptions,' U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said in the news release. The charges in New Mexico came as a second military zone created in the El Paso area, which will be part of the Fort Bliss Army base. The area stretches about 53 miles east to the border community of Fort Hancock. Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@ @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook. More: El Pasoan residents march to demand respect for border community's dignity and rights This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 82 people face charges for crossing into New Mexico military zone
