TABC: Austin clerk arrested, charged with online solicitation of minor, illegal alcohol sales
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Department of Public Safety arrested an Austin convenience store clerk Aug. 11 for selling and giving alcohol to minors.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Department of Public Safety arrested an Austin convenience store clerk Aug. 11 for selling and giving alcohol to minors.
Pedro Enrique Flores-Vasquez, 48, was a clerk at Hyde Park Market on Duval Street, which is close to the University of Texas at Austin campus.
Flores-Vasquez was charged with online solicitation of a minor, sale of alcohol to a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to the TABC.
On April 28, a minor from a local private school told the director of school security and safety that Flores-Vasquez sold alcohol to a minor and attempted to kiss and grab her before demanding her phone number, according to an affidavit.
Furthermore, the minor received calls and text messages from Flores-Vasquez, who was calling her "baby," the court documents said.
During another interaction on July 28, a minor who was with an undercover Texas Department of Public Safety trooper entered the convenience store and told Flores-Vasquez they were both 16 and wanted alcohol, according to the affidavit. However, another employee was in the store, and Flores-Vasquez also pointed to a camera.
The undercover trooper and Flores-Vasquez exchanged phone numbers, where he sent text messages, saying "me gustas mucho (I like you a lot)," and "busco alguien para consentirla (I am looking for someone to spoil)," according to the affidavit.
Later that night of July 28, Flores-Vasquez had the minor and undercover trooper follow him to another convenience store, where he bought them two cans of hard seltzer. Then, on Aug. 1, he sold the minor and undercover trooper a bottle of wine, court documents said.
According to the affidavit, Flores-Vasquez continued texting the undercover trooper, and he also sent photos and asked to be sent "sexy photos."
KXAN has reached out to attorneys connected with Flores-Vasquez. This story will be updated if we receive a response.
Officials said Flores-Vasquez was booked into the Travis County jail and remained in custody on bonds totaling $34,000.
“Online solicitation of a minor is a third-degree felony punishable by a prison sentence of between two to 10 years, along with a fine of up to $10,000. Selling alcohol to a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor are both class A misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000,” the TABC said.