Although a witness identified Falcon as one of the gunmen, the charges eventually were dismissed. In 1995, Falcon was indicted on state charges of official oppression and assault after a Starr County district attorney's investigator alleged he struck him on the back and neck. The investigator later dropped the charges. Falcon's lawyer, G. Allen Ramirez, said the charges in both cases were groundless and insists the sheriff is innocent of the latest allegations. It's easy to accuse a person of something.
Prosecutors say that is about to change.
Cash bribes often were delivered to Falcon at the sheriff's department or his home during the alleged scheme, which lasted from March 1997 through December, according to the indictments. Prosecutors allege Falcon and his jailers identified inmates who were seeking to be released on bond and referred them to Longoria. If the inmates could not afford the bond amount, Longoria would ask Justice of the Peace Jose Adan Garcia to reduce the bond and then pay him off, according to the indictments. Falcon, Garcia and the five jailers are charged with multiple counts of bribery and conspiracy. Last week, they pleaded innocent and were released on bond to await trial in March.