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03-02-13
13:35
LAREDO — A federal judge denied San Antonio-born singer Tish Hinojosa's request for deferred adjudication Wednesday and sentenced her to three years' probation for attempting to smuggle Rohypnol pills across the border.Chief Judge George P. Kazen also sentenced a companion, Jason Miles Phillips, 25, of Austin, to three years' probation. Hinojosa, 47, was fined $2,500 and Phillips was fined $1,000.
Both pleaded guilty Sept. 20 to felony possession of flunitrazepam, also known as Rohypnol and commonly referred to as a "date rape" drug.
Kazen admonished Hinojosa for her conduct Aug. 6 at the Gateway to Americas Bridge, saying her tirade after she and her boyfriend were arrested demonstrated her failure to accept the consequences of her actions.
Hinojosa apologized for her behavior.
"She seemed sincere this time around," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Saldaña, who prosecuted the case.
Saldaña said the judge told Hinojosa he was troubled that she demonstrated similar behavior Jan. 31, when she was arrested in Austin after an automobile accident.
Police charged her with driving while intoxicated and failure to stop and render aid. That case is still pending.
Hinojosa, who lives in Austin, could not be reached for comment.
According to court records, she and her boyfriend told officers at a U.S. Customs checkpoint they had nothing to declare. Hinojosa was allowed to continue, but inspectors found a box of 30 Rohypnol pills concealed inside Phillips' left boot.
Hinojosa returned to the inspection area and refused to leave without Phillips.
According to court records, she demanded to speak to him, told officers the pills were hers, then grew increasingly belligerent, striking an agent in the chest with both hands, saying, "You are nobody to tell me what to do."
