NewsTroubleshooters

Actions

Troubleshooters: Cancer Inmate

Posted at 6:51 PM, Aug 13, 2018
and last updated 2019-06-24 16:14:43-04

A Nueces County jail inmate is battling testicular cancer. He’s been in jail since early August.

His wife told the Troubleshooters she wouldn’t be fighting for her husband if he didn’t have this condition, but she doesn’t want their daughter to lose her father.

Meagan Criddle says she doing what she can to save her husband’s life.

Paul Benitez, the father of her infant daughter, has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.

He’s been in the Nueces County jail since August 4th and has been telling Meagan he’s not being given his meds and that he’s in a lot of pain.

“Right now he should be in the hospital. Should be, but I mean we can’t fight them. All we can do is try to get him what his doctor prescribed him.”

A statement from Benitez’s doctor about the pain reads ‘I feel this is likely a progression of your cancer pain.’

“Because I’ve taken paperwork that shows, and I’ve had his doctor’s nurse said all the information over to the jail,” Criddle said.

Benitez is in jail for a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance in Aransas County.

Criddle tells the Troubleshooters Benitez was picked up in Nueces County on August 4th on a warrant out of Aransas County.

“They said it was an out of county warrant and we’re taking you in.”

We have confirmed that with sheriff’s offices in both counties.

Benitez has a court hearing scheduled for Tuesday, August 14th, in Aransas County.

And authorities there say it’s likely he’ll be transferred there.

“They tell me he’s gonna get transferred every day,” Criddle told the Troubleshooters. “And then I call Rockport, and Rockport says that Nueces County never sent anything over for him to be transferred.”

There is good news for Paul Benitez. He’s been transferred to the Aransas County jail.

And as far as not being given his meds in Nueces County, jail chief Martin Arnold says all inmates are screened.

If they are on any medications, there is doctors consultation, and if the jail doesn’t offer a particular med, a substitute is given.