The wheels of justice turn daily in Laredo's district courts, where felony charges — some years old, others newly filed — move through the system. Here's a look at some of the cases that were recently on the docket.
Ruben Enrique Garza
Charges: Attempted sexual assault of a child , a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Date filed: October 18, 2023.
Latest information: On July 9, in the 406th District Court presided over by Judge Monica Z. Notzon, Ruben Enrique Garza pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of attempted sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony with a prison sentence ranging from 2-20 years, instead of aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony that could carry a sentence of 25-99 years. He waived his right to a jury trial, and the court ordered a pre-sentence investigation report. Sentencing is scheduled for September 30.
Background
Garza was served with arrest warrants on October 13, 2023, charging him with two counts of sexual assault of a child, both second degree felonies, for threatening a girl into having sex with him, saying that something would happen to her parents if she did not want to meet with him, according to Laredo police.
The case dates back to April 24, 2023. At about 2:54 p.m., officers responded to a sexual offense in the 10600 block of Patron Loop. A woman stated that her daughter cried out about being raped about three years ago, according to an arrest affidavit.
Her father had discovered sexual text messages on her phone between her and a male later identified as Garza, according to police.
The girl said that about three years ago, her friend added a guy who went by the name of Ruben on Snapchat.
Ruben was later determined to be Garza. Her friend told her to sneak out of the house to meet up with Garza. She stated that Garza picked them up around the corner of her house and took them to North Central Park.
Two weeks later, her friend contacted her again and told her that Garza wants to meet up with her but does not want to go alone. She decided to go with her friend. Garza picked them up around the corner and took them to the park.
When the girl was dropped off, Garza was supposed to take her friend home. She did not hear from her friend. Days later, the friend called the girl, saying that Garza had raped her that night but did not want anyone to know, states the affidavit.
Later on, Garza added the girl on Snapchat and asked her to hang out. The girl did not want to meet Garza. She was scared of his actions if she did not meet him. Garza threatened her by saying he would tell her parents that she had sneaked out to meet him at the park, according to court documents.
Garza told her that nothing was going to happen and that they were going to watch movies. When they were watching a show, Garza "began to get touchy." She would push his hands away, but he kept trying to put his hands down her shorts. He then sexually assaulted her, the affidavit states.
After the incident, he dropped her off where he had picked her up. She stated she blocked him, but he continues to find a way to communicate with her through social media, authorities said.
"(The girl) states she continued to see him up to two weeks ago due to fear for her parent's safety because he told her if she stops seeing him, something would happen to her parents. She stated through these years she has been seeing him, she has had intercourse with him," states the affidavit.
Ricardo Contreras
Charges: Aggravated sexual assault of a child (6 counts), first-degree felonies, punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
Indecency with a child through sexual contact, second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Date filed: September 25, 2024.
Latest info: On July 10, in the 341st District Court before Associate Judge Joe Maldonado, the defense presented a counteroffer and requested additional time to negotiate. The court signed an order for expert-witness disclosure, requiring documentation 20 days before trial. Final pretrial is scheduled for September 16 and jury selection is set for October 20.
Alexander Lopez
Charges: Murder, a first-degree felony, punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
Date filed: May 10, 2023.
Latest info: On July 10, in the 341st District Court with Associate Judge Joe Maldonado presiding, a Spanish-speaking psychologist completed an evaluation of Alexander Lopez, with the report still pending. The defense requested a September trial date to allow time for the report. The court scheduled the next final pretrial for August 12, with jury selection reset for September 22.
Karla Marelyn Perez
Charges: Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon , a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison; criminal mischief between $2,500 and $30,000, a state jail felony, punishable by 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility.
Date filed: July 25, 2024.
Latest info: On July 10, in the 341st District Court with Associate Judge Joe Maldonado presiding, Perez appeared for a final pretrial setting. The defense cited a companion immigration case and requested additional time. The state objected, referencing Perez's prior immigration issues. The court scheduled the next plea setting for August 12 and final pretrial for September 16, with jury selection slated for October 20.
Arnulfo Alvarez
Charges: Aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison; interference with an emergency call, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a fine not exceeding $4,000.
Date filed: April 2, 2025.
Latest info: On July 10, in the 341st District Court with Associate Judge Joe Maldonado presiding, Arnulfo Alvarez entered a plea of not guilty, waived the reading of the indictment, and requested pretrial settings. The court scheduled the next pretrial hearing for September 16, with a final pretrial set for January 20 and jury selection scheduled for February 9.
Manuel Belisario Ortiz
Charges: Injury to a child, elderly, or disabled individual with intent to cause bodily injury (2 counts), both third-degree felonies, each punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison.
Date filed: April 2, 2025.
Latest information: On July 10, in the 341st District Court with Associate Judge Joe Maldonado presiding, Ortiz entered a plea of not guilty, waived the reading of the indictment, and requested pretrial settings. An informal pretrial was held on July 17, with the next pretrial hearing scheduled for September 16, followed by a final pretrial on November 13 and jury selection set for December 15.
Cesar Atzael Marquez
Charges: Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Date filed: April 9, 2025.
Latest information: On July 10, in the 341st District Court, with Associate Judge Joe Maldonado presiding, Marquez pleaded not guilty, waived the reading of the indictment, and requested pretrial arrangements. An informal pretrial was scheduled but later canceled. The next pretrial is set for September 16, followed by another on November 13, a final pretrial on January 20, and jury selection on February 9.
Francisco Jesus Cardenas
Charges: Aggravated assault against a security officer (4 counts), each a first-degree felony, punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
Date filed: April 9, 2925.
Latest info: On July 10, in the 341st District Court with Associate Judge Joe Maldonado presiding, Cardenas appeared via Zoom and pleaded not guilty. He waived the reading of the indictment and requested pretrial settings. Although an informal pretrial was scheduled for July 17, it was later canceled. The next pretrial is set for September 16, followed by another on November 13, a final pretrial on January 20, and jury selection on February 9.
Lorenzo Rafael Cortez III
Charges: Aggravated robbery , a first-degree felony, punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
Date filed: July 24, 2024.
Latest info: On July 10, in the 341st District Court with Associate Judge Joe Maldonado presiding, Cortez appeared in custody and the court granted a defense motion for continuance. A final pretrial is now scheduled for September 16, with jury selection set for October 20.
Rogelio Rivera
Charges: Robbery, a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Date filed: April 9, 2025.
Latest info: On July 10, in the 341st District Court with Associate Judge Joe Maldonado presiding, Rivera appeared in custody and pleaded not guilty. He waived the reading of the indictment and requested pretrial dates. Although an informal pretrial was scheduled for July 17, it was canceled. The next pretrial is scheduled for September 16, followed by one on November 13, a final pretrial on January 20, and jury selection on February 9.
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