ROCKSPRINGS MAN IS NOW FACING FEDERAL CHARGES

     On March 29, 2016, Jesus Javier Ornelas (34) was in the City of Rocksprings, TX, reported to the Edwards County Sheriff's Office that he had been cruising around when all of a sudden his vehicle was being chased by two rival parties, Manuel Rodriguez III and Justin Rodriguez. According to Ornelas, Justin Rodriguez had previously attempted to kill him during a shooting where Justin and other “Crips gang members” began firing aimlessly at him and several other innocent men who had challenged the gang by demanding they stop selling drugs in Rocksprings. So, Javier said that when he observed a black truck driven by Manuel Rodriguez III and the passenger was his son, Justin Rodriguez, following him he stated, “I feared for my life because Justin has already tried to kill me with a gun once.” Upon being notified of the two vehicle driving through town erratically and possible shots being fired, Sheriff Elliott and Deputies quickly made a traffic stop of both vehicles involved and identified all subjects. During the initial statements of all the subjects at the scene, each party related to the Sheriff that they were the victim of the other person shooting but, evidentiary facts located at the multiple scenes concluded that Javier had been sole shooter who had actually shot his own car. Due to fact that both Manuel and Javier were both convicted felons, Sheriff Elliott requested the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in this matter, which is a common practice for agencies to interact and share information to reduce criminal activities.

     On September 20, 2016, Ornelas was arrested by Edwards County Sheriff’s Office for Evading Arrest/Detention in a Motor Vehicle during a routine patrol of the City of Rocksprings and was booked into the Edwards County Detention Facility. While being held on that charge, Ornelas was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for a violation of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Sheriff Elliott served Javier Ornelas with the Federal Arrest Warrant and he was transported to Federal custody on September 25, 2016 where he remains in the custody of the ATF awaiting trial for this charge.