Woman sentenced to 10 years for intoxication manslaughter

A state district judge in Brownsville has sentenced a Harlingen woman to 10 years in prison for the intoxication manslaughter of Javier Rendon.

In a packed courtroom Wednesday morning, 445th state District Judge Rolando Olvera sentenced 41-year-old Norma Cisneros Martinez to 10 years as part of a plea bargain earlier that morning with the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office.

The woman had been charged with causing the death of Rendon in a car accident May 2007. The accident took place on Ed Carey Drive in Harlingen.

Before entering the guilty plea, her lawyer refused to have the charge read in court.

Paula Rendon, the victim’s widow, said she had picked up her husband at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen the night of the accident.

“He had just gotten out of a (hernia) surgery,” Rendon said, choking back tears. “We were on our way home when it happened.”

The Rendons were traveling in a late-model Chevrolet Malibu when an older automobile struck them.

“I was hurt and don’t remember much,” a tearful Rendon said. “But he was badly hurt and was suffering until he died a few hours later.”

Before handing down the sentence, Olvera allowed Rendon’s brother Salvador to speak to the courtroom.

“My brother was a special person who shined a special kind of light,” he said. “He was a healthy man who did not partake of drugs or alcohol. He would always be there for our family and made us laugh with his jokes. While we do want justice, no amount of sentencing will bring our loved one back.”

Upon hearing the sentence, family members embraced and wept quietly.

“I implore everyone that, if they are going to drink, please don’t drive,” a tearful Juanita Vasquez said, speaking about her son. “Drinking and driving is what killed my son. An innocent man died and no amount of years in jail will bring him back.”