Oddities define much of Guerra's career

In his 18 years of practicing law in Texas, Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra has never been publicly sanctioned by the State Bar of Texas.

Disciplinary action could have been taken against Guerra in the past. He may have received a "private reprimand." However, because a private reprimand is privileged information, Guerra and the State Bar of Texas would be the only individuals with access to such information.

A sanction is issued when an attorney fails to comply with a law, rule or order.

Talks of sanctioning Guerra have surfaced within the past few days following his filing of indictments against Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. and several other elected officials including two Cameron County judges.

Defense attorney Tony Canales suggested that Guerra should be sanctioned for not appearing at Wednesday's hearings where officials had hoped to have the indictments thrown out.

Kim Davey, spokeswoman for the State Bar of Texas, said the filing of sanctions against an attorney is confidential, and she could neither confirm nor deny if any have been filed against Guerra recently.

Guerra attended the Reynaldo G. Garza School of Law where he graduated in July 1989 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, according to the State Bar of Texas. The law school was later shut down in the 1990s after failing to receive accreditation from the American Bar Association.

In his 12 years as district attorney, Guerra has not been afraid of taking on the power brokers, Freedom Newspapers archives reveal.

l Guerra demanded the firings of the county sheriff and the police chief on allegations of mishandling cases.

He also previously tried to indict District Clerk Gilbert Lozano, State District Judge Migdalia Lopez, special prosecutor Gus Garza, Raymondville Police Chief Uvaldo Zamora, Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy David Martinez, former County Judge Eliseo Barnhart and police Sgt. Daniel Cavazos on various charges.

l February 2007, Guerra handcuffed himself to a table outside the Willacy County Jail daring authorities to arrest him for violating his bond conditions. Guerra had been arrested on theft charges after he refused to let police execute a search warrant at his office. The warrant stemmed from an alleged sale of a state-confiscated vehicle.

Guerra later brought in a trailer, a horse, some goats and a rooster and remained camped outside the jail for almost two weeks. Guerra had refused to go back to his office saying officials tainted it when they executed a search warrant there.

l March 2007, a Willacy County grand jury indicted Guerra on allegations of theft, attempted theft and tampering with government records, perjury and abuse of official capacity. The indictments pertained to Guerra's attempt to shut down a bail bond company and using county property for personal use.

The indictments were later thrown out due to lack of evidence to support the charges. Judge Lopez had appointed Gus Garza as special prosecutor in the case.

l December 2007, Guerra was named to Texas Monthly's annual Bum Steer Awards.

l April 2008, Guerra was criticized for dismissing a murder charge against a Mexican national teenager who had been accused of killing her baby.

Guerra at that time said he dismissed the charge against the teenager so she could get psychiatric treatment after put on suicide watch.