Gandara’s Former Assistant Walks Into County Court With A Handgun

The District Attorney’s Office is investigating what prompted an assistant to former County Commissioner Willie Gandara Jr. to enter the County Courthouse with a gun.

El Paso County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Eileen Lopez said people don’t often bring weapons to County court.

But according to Lopez, mere days after Gandara was arrested on federal drug-trafficking charges, his administrative assistant, Shani Enriquez, attempted to bring a handgun into the courthouse on Feb. 24.

“Security personnel located a handgun in her purse,” said Lopez.

Even though Enriquez has a concealed weapons permit, Lopez said guns are prohibited in the courthouse.

Lopez said she did not know if the gun was registered to Enriquez.

According to El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles, Enriquez was taken into custody after she tried to pass through security.

Sheriff Wiles said her weapon was confiscated and she was presented to a DIMS attorney.

DIMS stands for the District Attorney’s Information Management System, which allows a prosecutor to screen criminal cases presented by law enforcement officers and determine if prosecution is desired within hours of the commission of an offense.

Sheriff Wiles said the DIMS attorney made the decision to present the case as a non-arrest, and it was presented to the District Attorney on Monday.