DPS trooper charged with bribery, tampering with evidence

WESLACO -- A state trooper was charged Friday with three felony charges involving bribery, as well as tampering with evidence and government records.

Juan Ramon Jr., 27, was arrested Friday at the Texas Department of Public Safety office in Weslaco. DPS troopers had been investigating Ramon for bribery, evidence tampering and altering government records.

DPS spokeswoman Lisa Block declined to release details of the investigation into Ramon's alleged crimes.

Ramon has worked as a DPS patrol trooper since August 2006, Block said. He has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Ramon was charged Friday with bribery, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and tampering with a government record.

The bribery charge is a second degree felony that carries between two and 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Each tampering charge is a third degree felony, with a maximum penalty of two to 10 years in prison an up to a $10,000 fine.

Ramon has been released from the Hidalgo County Jail on a $15,000 bond.