LAREDO JURY TO GET CASE OF OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF FIXING CRIMINAL CASES

LAREDO (AP)- Closing arguments were heard Monday in the federal case against
two investigators, a bail bondsman and relatives of Webb and Zapata
counties' top prosecutor who are accused of conspiring to fix dozens of
criminal cases for bribes.

U.S. District Judge George Kazen was expected to issue jury instructions
Tuesday morning. He met with lawyers Friday to determine what charges from
the 21-count indictment jurors should consider in the alleged case-fixing
scheme.

Defendants in the five-week corruption trial are Jose M. Rubio Sr., his son
Carlos Rubio, bail bondsman Jesse Castaneda, district attorney Chief
Assistant Criminal Investigator Alfonso Rodriguez and Criminal Investigator
Agustin Mendoza Jr.

Mr. Rubio Sr. is father of Joe Rubio, the district attorney for Webb and
Zapata counties since 1988, and Carlos is his brother. Mr. Rubio, who was
re-elected to a fourth term in April, hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing
and has maintained he was unaware of any alleged scheme. He has said the men
are innocent.

The five are accused of soliciting $200,000 in bribes for pledges to drop or
reduce charges in 40 drug, weapon and drunken driving cases between 1992 and
1998. Prosecutors said charges surrounding the cases in question were
reduced.

Prosecutors presented a total of 125 witnesses and dozens of taped
conversations, and they concluded by listing hundreds of phone calls between
the defendants as six cases allegedly were being fixed.

Defense attorneys used some of the government's evidence to present their
case. The attorneys argued that some defendants, who claimed they paid Mr.
Castaneda or Mr. Rubio, ended up in court, were placed on probation and paid
fines.

Mr. Mendoza was the only defendant to take the stand.