A judge ruled former Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo qualifies as indigent in the Robb Elementary criminal case, allowing public funds for expert witnesses.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Former Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo qualifies as indigent, allowing him to use public funds to hire expert witnesses for his criminal trial, his attorney confirmed to 3NEWS.
Attorney Paul Looney told 3NEWS that 4th Administrative Judicial Region Judge Sid Harle ruled Arredondo meets Uvalde County’s indigence guidelines. According to the motion, Arredondo’s income exceeds his monthly expenses by about $300.
The ruling allows Arredondo to seek public funding to hire expert witnesses to counter experts expected to testify for the state.
Looney told 3NEWS that his firm, Looney Smith Conrad & Hefti, is representing Arredondo pro bono.
When asked whether a change of venue has been filed or is expected, Looney told 3NEWS, “I’m sure it will be tried in Corpus Christi if it is tried.”
In January, a Nueces County jury acquitted former Uvalde CISD police officer Adrian Gonzales of child endangerment charges tied to the May 24, 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. Several victims’ families attended the trial in Corpus Christi and expressed frustration after the verdict, with some saying they felt the justice system had failed the victims again.
According to Uvalde Leader-News, Arredondo’s criminal case was placed on inactive status Feb. 17 pending the results of a federal lawsuit filed by Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell.
Mitchell is seeking testimony from three U.S. Border Patrol agents who responded to the Robb Elementary School shooting, including two members of the team that killed the gunman. Customs and Border Protection denied the request, arguing the agents’ testimony is not essential to the case, according to Uvalde Leader-News.
The news comes just a day after the Robb Elementary tragedy was brought to the national stage during the Academy Awards.
A documentary called “All the Empty Rooms” featuring the victims of school shootings, including the Uvalde attack, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film. During the ceremony, Jackie Cazares’ mother, Gloria Cazares, spoke about the lasting impact of the shooting and the loss of her daughter.
“My daughter, Jackie, was nine years old when she was killed in Uvalde. Since that day, her bedroom has been frozen in time,” Cazares said. “Jackie is more than just a headline. She is our light and our life.”