HOUSTON – Local 2 Investigates is learning more about a seasonal UPS employee caught on camera stealing a package from a Houston man's doorstep last week.
We first showed you the video last Thursday. UPS said it does criminal background checks on all of its holiday hires; but Local 2 discovered the man in the video does have a criminal past.
Cirilo Stephens, 30, was arrested in 2007 and charged with assault with a deadly weapon in a domestic violence case in California. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disturbing the peace and paid a $100 fine.
Court records show in August of this year, the plea and case were set aside and the case was dismissed. It is still a matter of public record which is how we found it online.
A UPS spokesperson told Local 2's Amy Davis the company's security department didn't see the record. Since no charges were filed against Stephens in the Houston theft case, he could land a job at another delivery company and the incident wouldn't turn up.
UPS identified Stephens from surveillance video captured at Al Alverson's home. The delivery company fired Stephens. Deputies said Stephens confessed and returned the package he had in his home. However, Alverson said he thought the Harris County Sheriff's Office would pursue charges since the investigator saw the video.
"Because I initially said I just wanted my property back, I think they took that a step further like I didn't want to press charges," Alverson explained.
Local 2 stopped by Stephens' home. The woman who answered the door told us to leave.
A sheriff's department spokesperson said because the property stolen belonged to Alverson, he has to be the one to file charges. Alverson said he will follow up if he needs to.