Former Pro Tem staffers indicted

The grand jury has handed down nine indictments against the four former staffers of the Mayor Pro Tem office who were fired for taking improper bonuses.

The grand jury issued a total of nine indictments against Rosita Hernandez, Florence Watkins, Christopher Mays and Theresa Orta, all of whom were fired after the investigation began earlier this year.

Each is charged with theft by a public servant of more than $200,000 and tampering with a public record. Watkins is named in two tampering indictments.

The indictment alleges that unauthorized bonuses totaled $143,500 and unauthorized raises brought the total to at least $200,000, said Assistant District Attorney Don Smyth.

The grand jury did not indict Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, who was mayor pro tem when the employees got the payments.

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The indictments conclude the investigation in the Office of Mayor Pro Tem, Smyth said, but the investigation now will look into all other city departments to ensure that no more improper payments have been made.

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Alvarado, who has not been implicated in any wrongdoing related to the bonuses, testified voluntarily this week. The four former employees appeared before the grand jury last week in response to subpoenas.

"She testified, answered all the questions that we had," said Smyth. "I think the grand jurors received the information they wanted."

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Employees in Alvarado's council office, as distinct from the separate mayor pro tem operation, did not receive bonuses and are not suspected of wrongdoing.

This should be the end of any major worries for Carol Alvarado. The Fired Four have claimed multiple times that Alvarado knew what they were doing, but the grand jurors didn't buy it. She'll still have to endure a cross-examination some day, and there may be some land mines lurking for her there, but her business with Chuck Rosenthal is over. That's the biggest thing, and it means she can go full steam ahead as before.

Here's Alvarado's statement on the indictments:

"I want to thank the Harris County District Attorney and the members of the Grand Jury for their diligent and thorough review of the facts. I believe the right conclusion has been reached.

In many ways this is a sad day because it is a stark reminder that four employees of the office of the Mayor Pro Tem betrayed my trust and, more importantly the trust of the people of the city of Houston. They are now, appropriately, in the hands of the criminal justice system."

It's still too early to say what kind of political damage Alvarado may suffer and how that may affect any future campaigns she may run, but the worst is definitely behind her.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on September 29, 2006 to Local politics | TrackBack