Houston Judge Jails Transgendered Widow
HOUSTON – A Houston judge has jailed the transgendered widow of a fallen firefighter after she was late for a scheduled court date.
Nikki Araguz has been waging a court fight for the death benefits of firefighter Thomas Araguz III, who died in July 2010 while battling an egg farm fire near Wharton.
The Houston Chronicle reports she was to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. Friday to plead to a $2,800 wristwatch theft from an acquaintance. She didn’t arrive until 9:10 a.m., however, and state District Judge Vanessa Velasquez ordered her jailed.
Araguz’s attorney, Jeff Downing, said his client was planning to plead guilty to theft in exchange for a 30-day jail sentence and $2,800 in restitution. Now, she could remain jailed for two weeks before entering a plea.
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