3 Evins employees arrested, accused of mistreating youth, destroying the evidence

Jacob Fischler, The Monitor

EDINBURG – Three employees at a juvenile detention facility were arrested last week for allegedly using excessive force against inmates.

Officers from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General arrested Evins Regional Juvenile Center correctional officers Juan Tamez and Julian Fuentes, along with Evins Director of Security Pete Martinez between June 21 and 27.

Tamez and Fuentes were charged with official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor, and Martinez was charged with tampering or fabricating physical evidence, a third-degree felony.

“They will not be working with this agency again,” said Jim Hurley, a spokesman for the Juvenile Justice Department. Hurley said he did not know if the three had officially been terminated, but was confident that they will be in the near future.

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