Topic: Gonzales County Jail

Simon Cantu enters the Gonzales County Jail as many as four times per week, creating a revolving door scenario funded by local taxpayers. County Attorney Paul Watkins notes that a maximum 180-day sentence would cost the county thousands of dollars, which many citizens are reluctant to pay. Cantu admits to turning himself in frequently because he is homeless and uses alcohol to pass the time.

Glenn Socklin provides a tour of the old Gonzales County Jail, a structure built in 1895 on the original Green Dewitt land grant. The facility served as a regional jail for multiple counties until the mid-1970s and features a replica gallows and original prisoner graffiti. Though designed for 100 inmates, the building eventually fell into disrepair with minimal plumbing before being converted into a museum and Chamber of Commerce office.