A Laredo man pleaded guilty in a head-on crash that killed another driver. He will not go to prison. He got 10 years of probation.

His name is Esteban Ezequiel De Leon. He was 28 when he was arrested in 2022. The man who died was Mario Alberto Baez Jr. He was 31.

De Leon now lives in Maricopa County, Arizona. His probation was moved there.

It happened on April 2, 2022. The time was about 6:56 a.m. The spot was Bob Bullock Loop, also called Loop 20. An arrest affidavit puts it in front of Pla-Mor Entertainment.

De Leon was driving a black Volkswagen Tiguan. Baez was driving a brown Nissan Xterra.

A witness was driving behind the Nissan. He told police what he saw. The Volkswagen was going south. It crossed the median and the yellow poles. It went into the northbound lanes. Then it hit the Nissan head-on.

Baez was stuck inside his Nissan. Laredo firefighters had to cut off the roof to get him out. He was taken to Doctors Hospital. He died there.

Police wrote about De Leon in the affidavit. They said his speech was slurred. He was badly hurt in the face and head. He gave his name. He would not give his address. He was set to be flown to San Antonio for care.

A doctor told police about a drug test. It found no alcohol. But it found cocaine and marijuana, the affidavit says.

His hospital records showed more. They showed benzodiazepine, cocaine and cannabinoids that day. Benzodiazepine is a type of drug for stress and anxiety. Xanax is one kind. Cannabinoids come from marijuana.

Police also got a blood sample with a search warrant. It went to the state crime lab at the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The car's black box told a story too. Data from the Volkswagen showed speeds of 105 mph and 83 mph at the time of impact, court documents say.

On April 6, 2022, police got a tip. It said De Leon had a history of using cocaine and Xanax.

On May 3, 2022, officers went to a car dealer to get things left in the Volkswagen. They found a small plastic bag. Inside were six whole pills and four half pills. The pills were Xanax, officers said.

A prosecutor looked at the case and signed off on a warrant. De Leon was arrested in May 2022. He was charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. That means causing a death by accident while driving drunk or high. In Texas it is a felony that can mean 2 to 20 years in prison.

He got out of jail on bond the same day, jail records show.

De Leon pleaded guilty on March 5. He appeared in person before Judge Beckie Palomo of the 341st District Court in Webb County. He gave up his right to a jury trial. He also gave up his right to appeal unless the judge allows it.

The judge took the plea deal and found him guilty. His sentence was 10 years in prison. But that time was put on hold. Instead, he got 10 years of probation.

He has to follow rules. If he breaks them, a judge could take away his probation and send him to prison.

Here are some of the rules:

He must spend 60 days in the Webb County Jail.

He must pay a $3,000 fine.

He must do 200 hours of community service.

He must keep an ignition interlock in his car. That is a breath test he must pass before the car will start.

He must take a DWI class and a class called Bridging the Gap.

Why probation and not prison? The reason has not been made public.

De Leon went back to court on Aug. 6, 2026. The judge was told he had finished the DWI class. He still had to finish Bridging the Gap. He still had to do his community service hours.

The judge told him to keep the interlock. He was warned that a positive alcohol test could lead to a warrant for his arrest.

His next court date is Dec. 8, 2026.