SAN ANTONIO – Three arrests in three days, each involved women becoming alleged partners in crime with men in a string of recent robberies, including the near-fatal shooting of a San Antonio police officer.
Eddie Gonzales, KSAT crime analyst, said females criminals are hardly new, but given the number of cases lately, they seem more prevalent right now.
Jenevieve Ramos, 28, and Shawn Ruiz Puente, 30, are accused of opening fire on Officer Robert Deckard during a pursuit Sunday.
The following day, 28-year-old Andrea Hinojosa and 30-year-old Joe Hinojosa were arrested by SAPD, accused in a series of credit card thefts, purse snatchings, and at least one robbery.
Another couple, Jacob Adame and Olivia Lopez also were taken into custody Tuesday after a robbery at the Valero convenience store in the 11000 block of Potranco Rd. Police have said they believe the two may be responsible for at least 11 other robberies dating back to October.
Gonzales said often couples work in tandem, possibly one as a decoy or lookout, while the other commits the holdup.
However, Gonzales said under Texas law, if convicted, both could face the same charges and penalties.
He said often women will claim they were "forced into it" by their male partner, especially if children are involved.
"They felt like they had to help. They were scared of him. If they didn't, something would happen," Gonzales said.
He said often that is their defense in court.
"A lot of this comes up that they were intimidated, they were scared, but that's for the jury to decide," Gonzales said.
However, he said others are "very willing accomplices, just bad people."
Gonzales said many are just as capable as men in breaking the law.
Patricia Castillo, director of the P.E.A.C.E Initiative, a coalition working to end domestic violence, said she often worked with female inmates at the Bexar County Jail.
Castillo said many of them told her they resorted to a life of crime, be it prostitution or worse, for one simple reason, to support their drug habit.
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