Post by Critique on Feb 20, 2007 19:38:48 GMT -5
February 13, 2007
By EMMA PEREZ-TREVIÑO
February 13, 2007 — Brownsville Municipal Judge Ben Neece was stabbed Monday morning in his left forearm in a domestic disturbance at his home, said Cameron County Chief Deputy Gus Reyna.
Both Neece and his wife face potential charges in the case.
“It looks horrible,” the 51-year-old Neece said. “I’m freaked out and need time to recuperate and think about this whole thing.”
Warrants of arrest have not been issued as investigations continue, Reyna said.
Neece, who has served as municipal judge since 1984, was treated for a stab wound to his left forearm and released from Brownsville Surgical Hospital.
Immediately and pending further inquiries, his wife, 39-year-old Jaqueline Cooke Neece could face a charge of aggravated assault, a first degree felony offense carrying a prison term upon conviction of five to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, Reyna said.
Also, Judge Neece could face a charge of assault, a Class A misdemeanor offense, which carries a one-year jail term and a fine up to $4,000, Reyna said.
“We are still working the case,” he said. “They are both victims. We have not been able to talk to her. The investigation is still ongoing.
“Until we gather all the information and obtain statements from both, we will make a determination if we will obtain warrants for arrest or submit the case to a grand jury,” Reyna said. “We will discuss this with the District Attorney (Armando Villalobos).”
Sheriff investigators have not located Neece’s wife for further investigation into the stabbing, Reyna said.
Deputies responded to a call from Valley Regional Medical Center early Monday regarding a stabbed subject, Reyna said.
Deputies contacted Judge Neece who was bleeding from the left forearm and had a laceration on his left toe. Reyna said Neece said his wife had stabbed him with a kitchen knife after an argument at their home at the 100 block of Sally Lane.
Reyna said Neece said the argument happened at about 6 a.m.
“He admitted that he slapped her on the face and pushed her away from him with his feet and that his wife reacted by stabbing him on the left forearm with a kitchen knife,” Reyna said.
Reyna said that upon processing the crime scene, deputies located 7.8 grams of marijuana on the bed where Neece had been laying when he was stabbed.
Drug charges also could be pending, Reyna said.
Reyna said that Neece drove himself to Valley Regional Medical Center.
“I’m sure they did blood work,” Reyna said. “We’ll find out if he was intoxicated or under the influence of a substance at a later date.”
Neece left Valley Regional in his hospital robe.
“I was there for two hours, and they wouldn’t treat me,” Neece said. “I was like, ‘Man, how long do they leave a man who was stabbed. I went to a nearby hospital.”
www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_comments.php?id=75182_0_10_0_C
By EMMA PEREZ-TREVIÑO
February 13, 2007 — Brownsville Municipal Judge Ben Neece was stabbed Monday morning in his left forearm in a domestic disturbance at his home, said Cameron County Chief Deputy Gus Reyna.
Both Neece and his wife face potential charges in the case.
“It looks horrible,” the 51-year-old Neece said. “I’m freaked out and need time to recuperate and think about this whole thing.”
Warrants of arrest have not been issued as investigations continue, Reyna said.
Neece, who has served as municipal judge since 1984, was treated for a stab wound to his left forearm and released from Brownsville Surgical Hospital.
Immediately and pending further inquiries, his wife, 39-year-old Jaqueline Cooke Neece could face a charge of aggravated assault, a first degree felony offense carrying a prison term upon conviction of five to 99 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, Reyna said.
Also, Judge Neece could face a charge of assault, a Class A misdemeanor offense, which carries a one-year jail term and a fine up to $4,000, Reyna said.
“We are still working the case,” he said. “They are both victims. We have not been able to talk to her. The investigation is still ongoing.
“Until we gather all the information and obtain statements from both, we will make a determination if we will obtain warrants for arrest or submit the case to a grand jury,” Reyna said. “We will discuss this with the District Attorney (Armando Villalobos).”
Sheriff investigators have not located Neece’s wife for further investigation into the stabbing, Reyna said.
Deputies responded to a call from Valley Regional Medical Center early Monday regarding a stabbed subject, Reyna said.
Deputies contacted Judge Neece who was bleeding from the left forearm and had a laceration on his left toe. Reyna said Neece said his wife had stabbed him with a kitchen knife after an argument at their home at the 100 block of Sally Lane.
Reyna said Neece said the argument happened at about 6 a.m.
“He admitted that he slapped her on the face and pushed her away from him with his feet and that his wife reacted by stabbing him on the left forearm with a kitchen knife,” Reyna said.
Reyna said that upon processing the crime scene, deputies located 7.8 grams of marijuana on the bed where Neece had been laying when he was stabbed.
Drug charges also could be pending, Reyna said.
Reyna said that Neece drove himself to Valley Regional Medical Center.
“I’m sure they did blood work,” Reyna said. “We’ll find out if he was intoxicated or under the influence of a substance at a later date.”
Neece left Valley Regional in his hospital robe.
“I was there for two hours, and they wouldn’t treat me,” Neece said. “I was like, ‘Man, how long do they leave a man who was stabbed. I went to a nearby hospital.”
www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_comments.php?id=75182_0_10_0_C