Former ‘star quarterback’ at PSJA North accused of harassing a judge

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A former “star quarterback” at PSJA North High School was arrested Thursday after he allegedly harassed a judge on Facebook.

Gilberto “Gilbert” Zepeda III, 39, of California allegedly published several Facebook posts about state District Judge Nereida Lopez Singleterry on Sunday. In the posts, Zepeda repeatedly urged people to kill her — and tagged the FBI, local TV stations and other public officials.

“I mean no harm to anyone,” Zepeda said in a text message on Tuesday, adding that he “went through a serious accident and was taken advantage of.”

Asked repeatedly, Zepeda would not explain why he posted the comments about Lopez Singleterry.

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested Zepeda on Thursday in Chicago. He’s charged with harassment, a state jail felony.

Gilberto "Gilbert" Zepeda III as seen in a YouTube video posted by PSJA ISD.

Zepeda attended PSJA North High School, where he was the “star quarterback” during the 2004 football season, according to the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District, which highlighted Zepeda in a 2019 Facebook post.

After graduation, Zepeda studied business at the University of Texas at Austin, according to his LinkedIn page, and moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a producer for Fox Sports.

Zepeda suffered “catastrophic injuries” in 2023, when a balcony collapsed on South Padre Island, according to a lawsuit filed in Hidalgo County, leaving him with 27 fractured bones.

“Plaintiff was set to get married to his fiancé the very month following this horrific incident,” according to the lawsuit. “As a result of this incident, Plaintiff’s wedding, honeymoon, flourishing career, and life as he knew it has come to a halt as he continues fighting for his life.”

The accident left Zepeda with more than $1 million in medical bills, according to the lawsuit, and cost him more than $200,000 in lost wages.

Zepeda’s attorneys filed a motion to withdraw from the case in July 2024.

In the motion, Zepeda’s attorneys said they had recovered “the full limits of all existing insurance policies.”

“Plaintiff is now apparently unhappy with that settlement, wishing he could have obtained more money,” according to the motion. “However, Movants have explained to Plaintiff the situation wherein only 1 Defendant had insurance, which Plaintiff collected the full policy limits of insurance on.”

After his attorneys withdrew, Zepeda represented himself.

Lopez Singleterry dismissed Zepeda’s claims in April 2025. Zepeda responded by filing a 44-page document that accused her of favoritism.

“The amount of disrespect to me and my family shown by Judge Nereida Lopez Singleterry will never be forgotten,” Zepeda wrote.

The lawsuit remains on appeal with Zepeda representing himself.