Former Uvalde CISD Officer Pleads Not Guilty to 29 Felony Counts
Uvalde, Texas — Adrian Gonzales, a former officer with Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (CISD), declared not guilty during his arraignment hearing on charges of child endangerment on Thursday.
Officer’s Quick Hearing
The proceedings concluded within a matter of minutes, and the subsequent hearing has been scheduled for September 16. The indictment against Gonzales includes 29 counts of child abandonment and endangerment. If deemed guilty of these state felony charges, Gonzales could face up to two years in state jail for each count.
Details Surrounding the Case
The charges lobbed at Gonzales step from an incident that occurred more than a year ago at Robb Elementary School. A grand jury in Uvalde County was initially convened five months ago to evaluate the case for potential criminal charges. Prevailing over the arraignment at the Uvalde County Courthouse was Judge Sid Harle, the 4th Administrative Judicial Region judge.
Several family members connected to the victims of the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, were present for the brief hearing. No cameras or cell phones were permitted inside the courtroom.
Concerns Raised by Defense
According to Gonzales’ defense attorney Nico LaHood, the explanation behind the specific focus on Gonzales among the more than 370 officers responding to the shooting has not yet been provided. Following the hearing, LaHood expressed that his client feels innocent and doesn’t grasp why the spotlight is on him.
Still, family members of the victims argue that accountability is due for the officers responsible for the late breach of the classroom during the shooting incident, which took over 77 minutes. Some of these relatives communicated feelings of both relief and intense emotion at seeing some form of legal action commencing.
Another former high-ranking member of Uvalde CISD, Chief Peter Arredondo, was also indicted alongside Gonzales. Charged with 10 counts of abandoning and endangering a child, Arredondo has already made a not-guilty plea and waived his right to appear for the arraignment.
Looking Ahead
Defense attorney LaHood specified that a massive amount of evidence would need to be sifted through in due course, citing body cams, reports, and school video footage as only some of the materials at hand. While it’s too early in the process to request a change of venue, he acknowledged the substantial nature and emotional heft of the case.
Now that the courtroom measures have commenced, next steps will include detailed examination of the copious evidence, followed by a trial if the case proceeds. LaHood is urging individuals not to pass judgment on Gonzales until the evidence is presented and reviewed fully.
