Maverick County Commissioners Court approves to tackle Maverick County Detention Center management

By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The Maverick County Commissioners Court unanimously approved for the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department under Sheriff Tom Schmerber to take over the management of the 625 bed Maverick County Detention Center, located at FM 131 at the Radar Base in northern Maverick County, at their regular meeting held on Monday, October 21, 2013, at the Commissioners Courtroom of the Maverick County Courthouse in Eagle Pass, Texas.

On or about October 1st, The GEO Group, Inc., a private prison management company from Florida, advised Maverick County that they were withdrawing from their contract to manage the Maverick County Detention Center and were giving Maverick County 30 days notice.

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber announced that he is naming Guillermo De Los Santos as the new Warden of the Maverick County Detention Center. Sheriff Tom Schmerber expressed his confidence in Guillermo De Los Santos and the Maverick County Sheriff Department being able to manage the large prison facility.

Maverick County Financial Advisor Roberto Rodriguez of Southwestern Capital Markets, Inc. of San Antonio, Texas stated that Maverick County will need to come up with $700,000 to operate the Maverick County Detention Center for the next two months. Rodriguez stated that the Maverick County Detention Center presents many financial challenges for Maverick County to operate the 625 bed prison facility.

Maverick County Commissioners Court is counting on the U.S. Marshal’s Service of the U.S. Department of Justice to continue its contract to house pre-trial detainees awaiting court in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, in Del Rio, Texas, to continue the Maverick County Detention Center open and save over 125 jobs in the community.

Voting in favor of Maverick County Sheriff’s Department to take over the management of the Maverick County Detention Center were County Judge David Saucedo, Commissioner Roberto Ruiz, Commissioner Asalia Casares, and Commissioner Jerry Morales. Absent at the October 21st meeting was Commissioner Jose Luis Rosales.

Private bondholders of the $42 million Maverick County Detention Center are concerned with The Geo Group, Inc.’s withdrawal of managing the 625 bed facility and who the subsequent manager of the facility will be to ensure that their investment and return is secured and protected.