Freed Inmate Faces Van Theft Charges Hours After Release
Suspect Served Time For DWI, Aggravated Assault

POSTED: 8:06 am CDT April 22, 2005

HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- A man released from prison Thursday after serving a three-year sentence allegedly stole a van just hours later and was soon back in custody.

Hector Zaragoza, 28, was arrested in Madisonville after leading police on a 25-mile pursuit in a service van authorities say he stole shortly after his release from the Huntsville Walls Unit.

Zaragoza had been imprisoned for driving while intoxicated and aggravated assault. He was being held Thursday night in the Walker County Jail, facing charges of felony theft of a vehicle, evading arrest and operating a vehicle with a revoked license.

Authorities said Zaragoza stole a van belonging to a Huntsville electric company that was repairing street lights.

"My guys were up in a bucket truck, there were cones all around and there was a city truck there," McCaffety Electric Vice President Robert McCaffety said in Friday's editions of The Huntsville Item. "This guy jumps in the service van, hops the curb and hauls butt."

Zaragoza had no further obligation to the prison system when he was released, Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Michelle Lyons said.


NICE TO KNOW HE GOT REFORMED INSIDE.

I think you're looking at it the wrong way. He was in for Agg Assault and felony (presumably) DWI. Now he's committing state jail felony UUMV/Theft, a much lesser crime.

Baby steps, people, baby steps.

I agree with Wes. Gotta be thankful that in his exuberance to leave Huntsville he didn't steal the bucket truck with some poor schmoe up in the bucket.

Maybe that or he was upset he was checked out of the Huntsville Hilton before he was ready to go home.

bless his heart. It looks like/sounds like the keys were in it. Wouldn't that constitute some sort of an enticement?

We had a guy arrested for Violation of Protective Order, bond out, arrested one week later for Violation of Protective Order, bond out, one of the investigators tailed him as he walked home, and yup was immediately arrested for violation of protective order.