After more than four years of pre-trial hearings, well-known Hidalgo County lawyer admits to driving while intoxicated

A well-known Hidalgo County lawyer admitted last week to driving while intoxicated.

Marco A. De Luna, 46, of Mission signed a formal admission of guilt on Oct. 18, when he agreed to participate in a pre-trial diversion program.

De Luna is well known in western Hidalgo County, where he ran for justice of the peace in 2020. He also served as city attorney for Sullivan City and currently represents the La Joya Economic Development Corp.

The Mission Police Department arrested De Luna on Sept. 20, 2017, when an off-duty officer witnessed a black truck driving against traffic on North Stewart Road.

According to an affidavit filed with the Mission Municipal Court, the off-duty police officer witnessed the truck nearly hit a fence, veer off the road and start driving in the center lane.

Marco A. De Luna. (Photo courtesy of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.)

The off-duty officer, Joshua Jimenez, called the police department and followed the truck, which stopped on the 1300 block of Don’s Drive.

“Officer Jimenez stated that he then observed the defendant attempt to open his front door to his residence, but appeared to be struggling to open the door,” according to the affidavit. “Officer Jimenez then lowered his window and asked the defendant if he was ok and the defendant replied ‘yeah bro everything is fine.’”

Jimenez apparently wasn’t the only person concerned about De Luna’s driving.

A “concerned citizen” told another police officer he witnessed a car headed north on Stewart Road that “was driving from lane to lane almost crashing into a tree,” according to the affidavit. The concerned citizen, however, said he couldn’t see the car itself — just the headlights.

Officers detained De Luna, who refused to perform a standard field sobriety test or provide a breath sample.

During the arrest, another officer said “the defendant in slurred speech informed him numerous times that he was a criminal defense attorney,” according to the affidavit. Officers also said De Luna “became irate and began to point and curse at Officer Jimenez.”

De Luna was charged with driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor.

The Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office filed the case in August 2018. After more than four years of pre-trial hearings, De Luna signed a formal admission of guilt on Oct. 18, 2022.

As part of the pre-trial diversion program, De Luna must perform 24 hours of community service, complete an alcohol education class and submit to random drug testing.

De Luna declined to comment.