Two teens charged in string of burglaries
Two Brownsville teenagers on Thursday went before a municipal judge to face more burglary charges, bringing their total to six charges of burglary of habitation each, officials said.
Juan Charles, 20, and Javier Gomez, went before Municipal Judge Ben Neece who arraigned them on the additional charges. A bond of $150,000 was set on each man, said police spokesman Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique. An additional $15,000 bond was set on Gomez for possession of a controlled substance-ecstasy, he added.
The two men were arrested about noon Monday at the Boca Chica Inn and Suites after police officers found marijuana on a coffee table in their room, police said.
Once in custody, police investigators were able to tie them to the six burglaries, Manrrique said. The investigation continues and additional charges could follow, he added.
Police officers went to the hotel after a burglary victim saw a truck at the hotel, the same truck that was seen at her home when it was burglarized, Manrrique said.
"The officers went to the room and tried to make contact with the guest inside," he said. "When they opened the door there was a strong smell of marijuana and that gave them probable cause to look inside and they saw the marijuana on a coffee table in plain view."
Police seized approximately three ounces of marijuana and eight grams of Ecstasy.
Once inside the hotel room, police officers found electronic goods and jewelry that were tied to the home burglaries, Manrrique said.
"The investigation is still ongoing," he said. "We are tracking down the property to match it with our cases."
