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Pecos Residents Speak Out on Hometown Man "El Diablo"
Pecos Residents Speak Out on Hometown Man "El Diablo" 11/27/12
fbolton@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News Reporter
November 27, 2012
PECOS, TX - Today many Pecos residents spoke out about the "hometown man” that threatened the lives of their law enforcement.
"El Diablo’s" threats were graphic, vulgar and highly brutal. Many Pecos residents stated they're glad he's behind bars and now they can begin moving forward.
"It makes me feel much more comfortable that he is behind bars," said Pecos Resident Meagan Epley.
"Lock him up forever. If he'll do it once, he'll do it again and we don't need that. The policemen are the people that protect us. So if he's trying to take them out, we’re in bad shape," said Pecos Resident Hattie Gordon.
Thirty-year-old Jacob Esparza, better known as "El Diablo", is in the custody of Homeland Security. Around 1:30am today they arrested him for public online threats against west Texas law enforcement, public officials and their families.
Some residents thought "El Diablo's" threats we're merely jokes.
"I lived here all my life and I don't know nothing about Diablo taking any action on anything. So I don't think it's serious," said Pecos Resident Tony Mendoza.
But this wasn't a laughing matter for local law enforcement.
"There was no way he was going to get away with that," said Reeves County Deputy Sheriff Michael Juarez.
His threats were taken so seriously that officials transferred Esparza directly to Winkler Co. Jail to separate him from law enforcement in Pecos.
Officials said it's a breath of fresh air to know he's detained.
"It’s a sigh of relief and I believe any officer in town or anywhere in the country would feel relief, because someone like that is behind bars finally," said Juarez.
This is not the first run-in with the law for Esparza. Court documents show Esparza has been investigated for family violence in Ector County back in September against his stepfather. He also had dealings with authorities in Big Spring and Fort Stockton for speeding and drug related offenses.