(July 17, 2008)

MATHIS--It's been nearly four months since a 45-year-old Mathis man was arrested on charges of child molestation, but there's still been no grand jury action. In fact the case has not yet been presented to a grand jury. The family of the alleged victim is concerned about that.

The family claims Mathis is known for its poor police investigations. So they're pressuring both the police department and the D-A's office to get this case before a grand jury.

Mathis police said Gilbert Echavarria raped a young girl over a five year period, while out on family trips. Officers are investigating several other complaints involving other family members.

He's been out of jail since his arrest in March and four months later, there's no grand jury action because of a missing dvd.

"Very frustrating," said Betty Lara, the mother of the young girl. "Angry and infuriating at times that we have gone through for the last couple of months. Finally we found out it was a Texas Ranger that had them."

Officers said confirmed the DVD with an interview of the victim was with the Texas Ranger.

"The Ranger assigned to assist me in this case was called away to El Dorado, Texas in regards to the children up there and I believe he's back now," said Lt. Salvador De La Riba of the Mathis Police Department. 

Lara is worried this case may not get in front of a grand jury, but Lt. De La Riba said his office has worked diligently on the case.

"I can assure you things that may have happened in the past before my time, but this case isn't going to go away," Lt. De La Riba said. 

With the dvd in hand, authorities now plan to present this case before a grand jury next month.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com