When You See the Dashcam Video, You Might Be Shocked That This Woman Wasn't Convicted -- Until You Learn What Job She Has

Did a shady Texas judge help protect one of his own from a drunk driving charge — and does video evidence now show his colleague's guilt?

Texas judge Nora Longoria was arrested and charged with drunk driving in July, but she was let off the hook last month by fellow judge Rolando Cantu, who reportedly marked "other" as the reason for dismissing the case against her.

The apparent facts of the case:

• The police officer who pulled Longoria over said she was speeding and smelled of booze.
• Longoria allegedly admitted to having had five beers during the course of the evening before she was stopped.
• Longoria refused to submit to a breath test or blood test to determine her intoxication level.

Despite the information available, Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra told local paper the Monitor that there was not enough evidence to prosecute Longoria.

Nora Longoria. (Image via McAllen Police/New York Daily News)

But as KGBT-TV reported, there was a crucial piece of evidence that the Hidalgo County district attorney's office didn't have while Longoria's case was being considered: dashcam video showing her flubbing a field sobriety test.

On Friday the McAllen, Texas, police department released that footage.

Image via YouTube

The video shows Longoria attempting to walk a straight line and stumbling multiple times.

Watch the video below:

Longoria also allegedly pleaded with the arresting officer: "Please let me go home, I live a couple of miles away. You are going to ruin my life."

On the website Reddit, commenters reacted to the newly released video with indignation and resignation.

"I live by McAllen," one commenter wrote. "This happens often. No big deal anymore. They're corrupt around here. Connections talk and this lady has connections."

Another commenter raised the question of whether Longoria should face renewed drunk driving charges, writing:

Dropped charges can be re-raised. The trial had not started. The charges were not dropped with prejudice. There is no double jeopardy issue.

There is absolutely no reason not to arrest her right now. She's obviously guilty. This is absurd.

A third commenter had a sarcastic suggestion for the people of Texas:

I'd suggest anybody that is in her court after this, after being asked if they had anything to say, respond with... 'Please let me go home. I live a couple miles away. You're going to ruin my life.'

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Follow Zach Noble (@thezachnoble) on Twitter