Lawman Faces Poaching Charges

A Starr County Sheriff’s Investigator is accused of poaching, reports Lone Star Outdoor News. Javier Peña, a 10-year veteran with the sheriff’s office, faces three misdemeanor charges of illegal hunting on Nov. 27. According to game warden reports, Peña drove three people in his unmarked county vehicle to a hunting area near the intersection of Farm Roads 775 and 490, 10 miles north of RIo Grande City. Two game wardens on patrol spotted the group when they saw their vehicle’s spotlight. Each is charged with hunting from a vehicle on a public road, hunting at night, and hunting with an artificial light. Officials booked Peña into the county jail, but released him on bail. Peña is unable to return to work because he is under internal investigation.