Texas State Rep. Poncho Nevárez was bonded out of jail after he was busted by surveillance footage in early September dropping a white envelope with cocaine in it.
The arrest warrant was signed by a Travis County magistrate and was issued to Nevárez on Thursday. He is facing a charge of Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 1. This is a third-degree felony and he can receive up to 10 years in prison. He turned himself in Thursday night in Maverick County and bond was set at $10,000.
More on the story from KXAN:
According to an affidavit for a search warrant to collect Nevárez’s DNA, filed in late October, an officer from the Texas Department of Public Safety was called for help by DPS Texas Highway Patrol regarding a substance that was found by a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) employee. It states earlier on Sept. 6, four small clear plastic baggies “containing a white powder-like substance” were found inside a sealed envelope outside the entrance of the TxDOT Flight Services in Austin.
The envelope had a letterhead that was from the “Office of the State of Texas House of Representatives Member Poncho Nevárez,” the affidavit says. Surveillance footage shows Nevárez leaving TxDOT Flight Services and “dropping a white paper object” as he was getting into the front passenger seat of his chief of staff’s black SUV.
The contents of the envelope tested positive for the presence of cocaine, weighing more than one gram but less than four grams, according to the affidavit.
“Through training and experience, I have learned that individuals involved in the possession of narcotics would like to remain discreet and typically conceal the narcotics as best as they can,” Special Agent Otto Cabrera wrote. “Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that Rep. Nevárez, using his own letterhead envelope, licked and sealed the envelope that contained the cocaine in order to keep it concealed.”
Nevárez responded with a written statement on Thursday morning:
“Unfortunately, the news is true. It is why I chose not to seek re-election. I had imperiled my health. I do not have anyone to blame but myself. I accept this because it is true and it will help me get better. In a weird way, I am grateful. Grief and addiction were consuming me, but oddly enough, I feel better now than I have in a long time and I mean that. I have many relationships to repair starting at home and I intend to seek treatment. I apologize to each and every person that feels I have let them down. I look forward to a future with my family and friends, to being healthy and finally, home.”
The Texas Democratic Party also issued a statement on Thursday:
“Addiction is a serious illness and it is important for people to access the help they need. Rep. Nevárez is taking responsibility and seeking treatment. We wish the best to him and his family during his recovery.”
As if we needed anymore evidence the Democratic Party is a train wreck, here it is.