Edward Gonzalez and Roland Zepeda Jr., the Houston cousins behind the 2016 viral video of a basketball game played on the Gulf Freeway feeder road, were each charged with obstructing a highway, a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law, and each also faced separate felony theft allegations that surfaced after viewers recognized them from the video. Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the obstruction charge on August 18, 2016, and was sentenced to 110 days in jail.1Houston Chronicle. Prankster Pleads Guilty to Traffic-Stopping Basketball Stunt Available reporting does not show a separate disposition for Zepeda’s obstruction charge or a final outcome on either man’s theft case.
What Led to the Charges
On May 31, 2016, Gonzalez, then 25, and Zepeda, then 28, set up a child-size plastic basketball hoop in the 7900 block of the Gulf Freeway feeder road near Broadway in southeast Houston and played a pick-up game as traffic backed up around them. Drivers honked, yelled, and swerved past.2ABC11. Pranksters Play Basketball Game on Busy Texas Roadway The cousins filmed the stunt and posted it to their Instagram account, @MyHouseIsDirty.3ABC13. Local Street Basketballers Post Arrest on Instagram Houston police said they learned about the incident from the video itself and opened an investigation. Warrants for obstruction of a highway or passageway followed for both men.4Houston Chronicle. Guys Who Stopped Houston Traffic to Play Basketball Have History of Pranks
Edward Gonzalez: Charges and Sentence
Gonzalez remained at large for several weeks after the warrant was issued. He was spotted at a Barneys store by a member of the public who called police, and after his arrest he posted a video to social media showing himself in handcuffs.5Houston Chronicle. Guy Who Performs Viral Antics in Houston Traffic Arrested
Beyond the freeway obstruction charge, Gonzalez was identified as a suspect in the theft of nearly $8,000 worth of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones from an Apple store at Memorial City Mall on April 13, 2016. He was held without bail.6ABC7 Chicago. Bail Denied for Man Accused of Stopping Traffic to Play Hoops Detectives were also reviewing surveillance from a similar theft at a Baybrook Mall Apple store on May 14, 2016, and a store manager suggested the same suspect was responsible for both; no formal charges from the Baybrook case had been filed as of late June 2016.7Houston Chronicle. I-45 Basketball Prankster Charged in Theft Case
On August 18, 2016, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the obstruction charge and received 110 days in jail.1Houston Chronicle. Prankster Pleads Guilty to Traffic-Stopping Basketball Stunt The Class B misdemeanor carries a statutory maximum of 180 days.8FindLaw. Texas Penal Code § 42.03 – Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway
Roland Zepeda Jr.: Charges and Bond
Zepeda was arrested first, on June 20, 2016, on warrants out of Fort Bend County.9Click2Houston. Arrest Made After Men Hold Up Traffic to Play Basketball in Middle of Road Along with the freeway obstruction charge, he faced:
- A felony theft charge for allegedly stealing two GoPro cameras valued at roughly $600 from a house in Pasadena. A witness recognized Zepeda from the viral basketball video and contacted Pasadena police.10ABC13. Bail Denied for Man Accused of Stopping Traffic to Play Hoops
- An outstanding larceny warrant from Fort Bend County, with bond set at $30,000.9Click2Houston. Arrest Made After Men Hold Up Traffic to Play Basketball in Middle of Road
- A second-offense felony DWI charge out of Travis County, with bond set at $10,000.9Click2Houston. Arrest Made After Men Hold Up Traffic to Play Basketball in Middle of Road
- An evading arrest charge filed in the City of Houston, with no bond set.9Click2Houston. Arrest Made After Men Hold Up Traffic to Play Basketball in Middle of Road
On June 27, 2016, Judge Maria Jackson of the 339th State District Court denied Zepeda’s bond on the theft charge, noting it was his third theft charge and second theft conviction. He was ordered held in the Harris County Jail until his next court date, scheduled for July 7, 2016.10ABC13. Bail Denied for Man Accused of Stopping Traffic to Play Hoops11Houston Chronicle. Viral Basketball Star Denied Bail Public reporting available on the case does not go beyond that hearing.
The Statute Behind the Obstruction Charge
Texas Penal Code § 42.03 makes it an offense to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly render a public road impassable, or to make passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous, without legal authority to do so. The offense is ordinarily a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. It can be elevated to a state jail felony if the obstruction prevents the passage of an emergency vehicle or blocks access to a hospital.8FindLaw. Texas Penal Code § 42.03 – Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway Neither aggravating factor was reported in the cousins’ case, and both were charged at the misdemeanor level.