ABC-7 LISTENS: Parole violation questioned

ABC-7 was contacted by a parolee who said there is a warrant out for his arrest for missing a required meeting during the month of June.

For Robert Lopez, it’s an injustice. Lopez said he was notified about the warrant on June 22 , when he attempted to report to his parole officer for the month.

But the Texas Department of Criminal Justice stands by its assertion that it is a clear violation of rules.

“I have not been an exceptional citizen,” Lopez admitted. “I had a very difficult time with drugs. I became a heroin addict at the age of 14.”

Lopez served 8 years in prison for robbery. He’s two years into his 21-year parole. Now, he’s turned to writing. Lopez’s book of short stories chronicling his life and experiences called “La Loteria” was recently published.

“Can an ex-con become a reformed person overnight? No, it’s been difficult. I’m having a very difficult time adjusting to society,” said Lopez. “But I’m still here and I’m still trying. I haven’t given up.”

Lopez told ABC-7 that when he reported to his parole officer June 22 she told him there was a warrant for his arrest, after missing a meeting at the beginning of the month.

Lopez insisted he was never assigned a specific date to report to his PO. He supplied ABC-7 with a document he said he received from the parole officer at the time of his release, stating, “All face-to-face contacts with offenders shall be scheduled at a time that is convenient to the offender and the Parole Officer. If an offender is employed, they shall NOT be instructed to take time off from work in order to report for office visits or scheduled home contacts.”

When asked about the letter, the spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice told ABC-7 in an email, “Parole officers work with those who are employed.”

The TDCJ spokesman also told ABC-7 that Lopez was instructed to report June 1 and he didn’t.

The spokesman said that the PO went to Lopez’s home three times and left “reporting instructions” that Lopez didn’t follow.

The spokesman even says they have no record of Lopez reporting to his PO on June 22 .

Lopez refuted the TDCJ’s remarks, saying, “Anything that a parole officer says is automatically taken as that’s what it is. It’s carved on rock.”

Lopez told ABC-7 he is employed, and he lives in Downtown El Paso across the street from his place of employment.

“They never contacted my boss, she never tried to go to my place of employment. If you don’t find me at my home, why don’t you cross the street.”

Lopez told ABC-7 he is preparing to turn himself in to authorities at the El Paso County Jail by the end of the week. He will stay here until a hearing is scheduled in two weeks.

The parole board decides if he should remain free or head back behind bars.

“I just want to be a writer. I want to live in society. And I want to be given an opportunity,” Lopez said. “If I trip, don’t sent me back to prison for not reporting. C’ mon !”

The TDCJ spokesman said the board decides how to reprimand parole violators based on the seriousness of the violation.