Ricardo Rangel

Ricardo Rangel (born 1966) is the Democratic justice of the peace for Webb County, Precinct 2, Place 2, based in Laredo, a largely Hispanic city of some 200,000 population on the Mexican border in south Texas. Rangel (pronounced RAN HELL) was first elected to the bench in 2002 and was reelected in 2006. He has been twice cited for driving while intoxicated, once prior to his JP service, and again in a February 15, 2007, arrest on Texas Highway 359. One of five justices of the peace in Webb County, Rangel draws a salary of approximately $70,000.

Rangel was earlier arrested for DWI on November 27, 1999. That charge resulted in a plea bargain. On January 14, 2000, he pleaded guilty to public intoxication in regard to the 1999 incident. In the second case, Rangel was pulled over for a defective taillight. He failed a field sobriety test and refused a Breathalyzer test at the Webb County jail, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The refusal to take the Breathalyzer test, which is designed to measure the level of alcohol in a person's system, means a six-month revocation of the individual's driver's license. Rangel's attorney, Alonzo Ramos of Laredo, said that the JP did not fail the sobriety test but relayed an "apology" from Rangel to "his constituents and the people of Webb County". Ramos denied that his client was under the influence of alcohol when he was stopped by police and added that Rangel is "just waiting for day in court."

A second-offense DWI is a Class A misdemeanor in Texas and usually nets a fine of up to $4,000 and a jail term of up to twelve months. A first-time offender faces the Class B misdemeanor charge, which usually means a $2,000 fine and up to six months in the county jail.

Rangel has previously worked as a warrant officer, jailer, deputy sheriff, tax warrant officer, and a court security officer at the Webb County Sheriff's Department in Laredo.

Rangel was the second justice of the peace in Laredo to have been arrested for DWI in the five-month period prior to February 2007. Democratic JP Hector J. Liendo was arrested for DWI and being in possession of an open alcoholic container in September 2006.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu