Chief Deputy Gilbert Rodriguez reported that in the last month the sheriff’s office has had to order phone dumps for 40 cell phones. Thirteen of those phones were evidence in human trafficking cases, he said. Above from left, Criminal District Attorney Mark Haby, Deputy Alfonso Oranday, and County Grant Administrator Beverly Ham take the podium to advocate for this technology. (Photo by Anton Riecher).
By Anton Riecher
The Medina County Sheriff’s Office was granted permission by the county commissioners Monday to apply for a grant to obtain equipment and training to download cell phone information as evidence in criminal investigations.
Commissioners voted 3-0 on a motion by Precinct 2 Commissioner Larry Sittre, seconded by Precinct 1 Commissioner Jessica Castiglione, to approve the request. Precinct 4 Commissioners Danny Lawler, scheduled for elbow surgery, missed the Monday meeting.
Chief Deputy Gilbert Rodriguez said that the latest cell phone technology allows owners to program phones to wipe all data and that imposes a time limit on law enforcement when the phone is evidence in an investigation.
“Currently we either have to take it to Austin or Laredo to have it downloaded,” Rodriguez said. “With this system we can do it instantaneously on site.”
The amount being requested is $18,806, he said.
“Hopefully we will get fully funded,” Rodriguez said. “If we don’t we have also gone out to all the area law enforcement agencies in Medina County asking them if they are willing to participate and, if so, to share the cost.”
Criminal District Attorney Mark Haby made his support for the measure known to the commissioners.
“For a prosecutor’s standpoint, this is absolutely essential,” he said. “It is just unbelievable the wealth of evidence you get off cell phones nowadays.”
At present, the technician that downloads the cell phone must be available to testify in court when any evidence is submitted, Haby said.
“We are having to bring in witnesses from out of the area,” he said. “If these individuals doing these phone dumps work for agencies across the state we are kind of at the mercy of their schedule.”
Rodriguez reported that in the last month the sheriff’s office has had to order phone dumps for 40 cell phones. Thirteen of those phones were evidence in human trafficking cases, he said.
Deputy Alfonso Oranday has been spearheading the cell phone project for the sheriff.
“Nearly every case that we investigate, from child exploitation to drug trafficking, violent crimes, there is always a cell phone involved,” Oranday said. “There is critical information on all these devices, from pictures to locations to contacts that will help us to stop the crime that is going on in Medina County.”
Commissioners also approved providing a contact number for participating entities to use the Statewide Automated Victim Notification Service. The free, automated, computer-based system provides federal crime victims with information on scheduled court events, as well as the outcome of those court events.
It also provides victims with information on the offender’s custody status and release.
In other business, the commissioners approved renewal of a bi-annual agreement with the Texas Department of State Health Services for regional and local services. Grant administrator Beverly Ham said the two-year grant for $92,282 would start in September this year.
In action directly affecting Devine, the commissioners voted 3-0 to accept the resignation of Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board member and assistant treasurer Juan Zamora.
