El Paso County has seen a surge in its fight against environmental violations, with the East Montana Patrol Station of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office securing its fifth illegal dumping arrest this week. According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to an incident occurring in the 14500 block of Truscott on Friday, retracing their steps in which the previous four arrests had been made.
Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered a wrinkled landscape of refuse, two unwelcome mountains of trash standing proud against the desert skyline. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office stated, "When deputies arrived, they discovered two large piles of trash along with potential evidence." Inserting their investigative expertise into the mess, both the Criminal Investigation Unit and the Crime Scene Unit were called in, with the latter gathering numerous items that promised to thread the needle of culpability.
In their web of inquiry, woven with pieces of what others discarded, 61-year-old Hortencia Aguilar De Areyanes emerged as the suspect. This culmination of investigative efforts led to a warrant issued for her arrest and, without ceremony, she found herself in custody the following day, facing the environmental music at the El Paso County Detention Facility. Charged with a Class A Misdemeanor for illegal dumping of over 100 cubic feet of trash, Aguilar De Areyanes' alleged actions could see her penalized with a year behind bars, a $4,000 fine, or both, as her bond was set at $2,000.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office, charged with the mantle of eco-guardianship, affirmed its commitment "to protecting the community and preserving our environment," through Sheriff Oscar Ugarte's words on social media. With a candid recognition of the crime's gravity, the Sheriff's Office has pledged to persist in its quest to hold offenders accountable, carrying the weight of environmental justice in a region where nature and civilization meet under the unforgiving Texan sun.
