Area law enforcement announce hot check amnesty period, warrant roundup

By Adriana M. Chávez / El Paso Timeselpasotimes.com
Posted: 03/14/2012 11:13:41 AM MDT

More than 2,700 people will be given a chance to take care of their hot check warrants, or face publication of their names and possible arrest.

El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal, along with representatives from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and county constables, announced the upcoming hot check amnesty period and warrant roundup during a news conference today at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown.

Bernal said a list with the names of hot check writers, or people who have written checks with insufficient funds, will be published on April 1. Bernal said people with warrants have until March 28 to pay their outstanding balances in order to avoid having their names published.

Following the list's publication in newspapers including the El Paso Times and other area media outlets, people with warrants will have until April 13 to pay their balances without having to pay extra fees such as court costs, attorney's fees and bond fees, Bernal said.

After April 13, sheriff's deputies and county constables will search for and arrest those who have yet to pay their balances.

Bernal said more than $2.13 million is owed to area business owners, who are the victims of a crime many view as "victimless." "This is not a victimless crime," Bernal said. "There are thousands of businesses in this community that suffer because people take advantage of them."

Bernal said law enforcement will mainly target hot check writers who have made it a habit of bouncing checks at several businesses. One hot check writer is said to owe $20,000 to various businesses. Another hot check writer has been on the warrants list since 1999.
From October to February, the County Attorney's Office has collected more than $330,000 in outstanding checks. Chief Deputy Eddie Campa of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said he hopes many more hot check writers will come forward during the amnesty period.

"We will be coming to your house. We will be going to your work or school. We will find you," Campa said.

Outstanding balances may be paid at the El Paso County Attorney's Office, on the fifth floor of the El Paso County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, or at the county attorney's annex offices at 9521 Socorro in the Lower Valley and at 4641 Cohen in Northeast El Paso. They may also be paid online at Hot Checks.

Those wanting to find out if they are on the warrant list may call the county attorney's office at 546-2051.

Area law enforcement announce hot check amnesty period, warrant roundup - El Paso Times