A former Bexar County detention deputy was indicted today on charges he altered a government document to cover up an attack on an inmate.
A four-count indictment alleges that on Feb. 7, 2021, Victor Collins knowing that an investigation was pending, to-wit: an investigation into injuries sustained by Sean Martinez, did intentionally or knowingly alter a document, to-wit: a Bexar County Adult Detention Center Facility incident report authored by Michael De La Cruz with knowledge of its falsity and with intent to impair the verity of the document, and affect the course or outcome of the investigation. The indictment also alleges that Collins made a false entry that “no force was utilized” with the intent to affect the course or outcome of the investigation. The indictment also alleges that Collins was a public servant, namely a Bexar County Sheriff’s deputy assigned to the Special Emergency Response Team in the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, acting under the color of his employment, intentionally subjected Martinez to mistreatment by confining Martinez to a cell knowing Martinez was injured while not offering medical aid or alerting medical staff, knowing it was unlawful to withhold medical aid from an injured inmate confined to the jail.
The Civil Rights Division is prosecuting this case, which was initially filed as a misdemeanor assault charge. Tampering with evidence is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. A person charged by indictment is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury or a judge. Because these and potentially other cases are either pending or may be under investigation, we can make no further comment on them.
Copies of indictments may be requested from the Bexar County District Clerk. Information on court settings can be found by searching the case online or directly from the court.