SA man caught up in Waco melee has lost his job at USAA

Diego Obledo was arrested in Waco on charges related to a motorcycle gang shootout at a Twin Peaks restaurant. An attorney helping his family said he’s not in a bike gang and doesn’t own a bike. He was there because he drove friends to the event. less Diego Obledo was arrested in Waco on charges related to a motorcycle gang shootout at a Twin Peaks restaurant. An attorney helping his family said he’s not in a bike gang and doesn’t own a bike. He was ... more Photo: COURTESY /COURTESY Photo: COURTESY /COURTESY Image 1 of / 176 Caption Close SA man caught up in Waco melee has lost his job at USAA 1 / 176 Back to Gallery

A San Antonio man has lost his job because he’s unable to post bail after he was arrested in the aftermath of the biker melee in Waco.

Diego N. Obledo, 40, doesn’t have a motorcycle but was arrested after driving friends in his Toyota Venza to the Twin Peaks restaurant where the brawl broke out, according to San Antonio lawyer A.L. Hernden, who is helping the family.

Hernden said Diego Obledo was “just standing around” but was caught up in the sweep as 170 people were arrested by Waco law officers. More than 30 are from this area.

Obledo has since been fired from his job at USAA, where he was an appraisal review specialist and three months away from being vested, Hernden said. Obledo is not in any gang, but accompanied friends in a motorcycle club for a meeting meant to discuss motorcycle laws and safety, according to Hernden.

“It’s terrible,” Hernden said. “He doesn’t even have a criminal record and is a family man. He’s got three kids and is the sole breadwinner.”

Hernden said McLennan County officials won't let Hernden post Diego Obledo's $1 million bond because Hernden is from out of town. Hernden said he is certified in Bexar County to post up to $2 million in bail.

“They won’t let me sign the bond,” Hernden said. “The county...will only take (bonds from) local bondsmen.”

McLennan County Sheriff’s Office officials said the county follows regulations set forth by its bail bonds board. Bonding companies or lawyers with ability to post bonds must meet certain criteria, and officials provided the newspaper a copy of the state law that says attorneys must be the lawyers of record in the case in order to be allowed to post bail.

Hernden said he has been helping the Obledo family find a lawyer in Waco, though their funds are limited because Obledo is in jail and no longer has his job, and because he’s familiar with Obledo’s uncle.

Obledo is the nephew of San Antonio-born Mario Obledo, known as the “Godfather of the Latino Movement” in the United States.

Mario Obledo co-founded the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, among others. In 1982, he ran unsuccessfully for governor of California.

To read more about this story, go to express-news.com

EDITORS NOTE: Because of incorrect information provided to the Express-News by lawyer A.L. Hernden, earlier versions of this story misidentified the relationship of Diego Obledo to the late Hispanic civil rights figure Mario Obledo. Diego Obledo is Mario Obledo's nephew.

gcontreras@express-news.net

Twitter: @gmaninfedland