Local father says a lie sent him to jail for 72 days

MYFOXHOUSTON - “I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d have a charge like this,” said Valdemar Herrera.

On February 26th of this year a swarm of FBI agents arrested Herrera in Las Vegas where he was living with his 15-year-old son.

Before he knew it he was in the Brazoria County Jail making headlines accused of plotting to kill his ex-wife. With a bond set at one million dollars Herrera would spend the next 72 days in jail.

“I was in with two different guys that had actually murdered people,” Herrera said.

Herrera was released from jail on May 8th after being no-billed by a grand jury.

“I’m not going to recover from this,” Herrera said. “It’s an impossible thing.”

The former coach and history teacher says the lie that sent him to jail left him financially ruined and his reputation shattered.

“There’s a lot of people that assume I’m guilty just because I was arrested and I was kept in jail for 72 days,” said Herrera.

What haunts Herrera the most he says is a promise he made to his 15-year-old son.

“He said dad when you get out of jail I want you to come get me,” Herrera said as he choked back tears.

That’s impossible for Herrera to do he says because the family court that granted him custody of his son after a bitter divorce has a no contact order against him based on the now dismissed criminal charges.

“I would just like my son back,” said Herrera.

191 days have passed since Herrera has seen his son.

That the distraught father says is worse than the time spent behind bars.

Could what happen to Herrera happen to another parent whose going through a divorce?

“Absolutely,” Herrera said. “I would have never guessed it but it’s as easy as two people walking into a jail house making accusations and throwing you in jail.”