Quintero pleads guilty to charge

By Melinda L. Lucas

Mary Quintero, former supervisor of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s ambulance service, appeared before District Judge Brooks Hagler last Thursday, April 6 and pled guilty to a two-year-old charge of theft of a controlled substance.

Quintero, who lives in Stephens County, and her attorney David Wimberly waived the right to a jury trial, opting instead to accept the judge’s ruling.

She received five years deferred adjudication community supervision (probation) for the crime, which reportedly involved the theft of drugs from the hospital district. There was also a $2,500 fine and 260 hours of community service.

After Quintero’s sudden resignation from the local EMS position in January 2020, there was a criminal investigation into “drug diversion,” but little was said in open session about Quintero’s involvement or about the progress of the investigation itself.

The charge was originally filed as diversion of a controlled substance, which is a state jail felony, but in March 2021, Quintero was indicted by a Shackelford County grand jury on the more serious charge of theft of a controlled substance greater than $150K, a third degree felony offense.

Quintero was arrested on the warrant by the Abilene Police Department April 2, 2021 and was transported to the Taylor County jail. She was released the next day on a $15,000 surety bond.

Quintero managed the Shackelford County EMS for five years from early 2015 until January 2020.