On July 18, 2026, Puebla’s State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) detained Javier Montalvo Juárez, the auxiliary mayor of San Lucas Atoyatenco in San Martín Texmelucan, as part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of journalist, professor, and lawyer Josué Martínez Contreras.

The arrest took place at 2:04 p.m. on the federal highway between San Martín Texmelucan and Tlaxcala, near the Arco Norte highway and Domingo Arenas, according to the National Detention Registry from the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection.

Authorities say Montalvo Juárez was apprehended for probable involvement in bribery during the investigation of Martínez Contreras’s homicide, which occurred on the morning of July 16, 2026, in front of his 13-year-old son.

The auxiliary mayor was detained near a convenience store in San Lucas Atoyatenco after he reportedly admitted to investigators that he was aware of being under investigation. The FGE stated that he allegedly offered investigators his vehicle, the transfer of its ownership documents, cash, and any other amount requested to avoid legal consequences.

Investigators immediately rejected the offer, informing him that such conduct constituted a probable criminal offense. He was then arrested for bribery, with full respect for legal procedures and his rights as a detainee.

Following his arrest, Montalvo Juárez was handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which will determine his legal status according to the law.

Meanwhile, the FGE emphasized that the investigation into the journalist’s murder continues with a comprehensive, thorough, and objective approach, exhausting all lines of inquiry under protocols designed to protect journalists and human rights defenders.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to act firmly, impartially, and strictly within the law, ensuring that no one obstructs justice through corruption or interference in the investigation.

This case highlights ongoing challenges in protecting press freedom and the rule of law in Puebla, underscoring the importance of transparent and accountable governance—issues that resonate deeply with communities both within Mexico and abroad.