Texas Police Officer Acquitted Of Human Smuggling Charges

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — A police officer from South Texas has been found not guilty on all federal human smuggling charges stemming from an incident involving her undocumented Mexican boyfriend. Valerie Rivas, an officer with the Brownsville Police Department, was acquitted on one charge of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and two counts of harboring illegal aliens in a federal courtroom in Corpus Christi Sept. 12, Rivas' attorney Micah W. Hatley told Patch.

The charges Rivas faced followed an incident Feb. 26 in the sand dunes of Padre Island National Seashore. Rivas was spotted in the dunes in the fetal position at 8:17 p.m. by a Coast Guard helicopter and subsequently arrested, according to federal court documents.

"Rivas stated that she is currently dating one of the undocumented illegal immigrants apprehended on the island and identified him as Alfredo Salazar-Hernandez," the affidavit stated. "Rivas stated that she has been dating for approximately 12 years. Rivas freely stated she was aware that Salazar is an undocumented illegal immigrant from Tabasco, Mexico."

Salazar was supposed to arrive in Victoria, Texas, Feb. 25 but when Rivas didn't hear from him, she went looking on Padre Island National Seashore, the affidavit stated. Because Salazar-Hernandez is no longer needed as a witness, he will likely be deported, Texas Monthly reported. A request for comment has been placed with Salazar's lawyer.

"It is bittersweet for my client to lose someone she cares about," Hatley said. "In reality, especially considering the circumstances, maybe this gives them the ability to move forward getting him here legally."

Rivas was suspended without pay following her arrest in February, Brownsville PD spokesman Jose Trevino told Patch. She was back at work Monday, Trevino said.

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Photo via Brownsville Police Department