Fired Four plead not guilty

The four former employees of the Mayor Pro Tem office have pleaded not guilty to charges related to their improper bonuses.

State District Judge Michael McSpadden read the charges to Rosita Hernandez, Florence Watkins, Christopher Mays and Theresa Orta, who have been released after posting bail. A Harris County grand jury indicted the four Friday on charges of theft by a public servant and tampering with a public record.

They are scheduled for another court hearing on Oct. 24, prosecutor Terese Buess said.

"Truth is our defense," said Watkins' attorney, Emily Detoto.

I believe that's the first time someone other than Hernandez's attorney Walter Boyd has spoken to the press. Don't know if that means anything, but there it is. According to an earlier version of the story, Orta is representing herself.

If the matter goes to trial, Buess said, City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, who was mayor pro tem when the payments were made, would be a "necessary witness." She declined to comment on the continuing investigation into other city departments.

The four former staffers obiously failed to land any really damaging blows to Alvarado during grand jury testimony, but as that's sealed we don't know what they tried. This will be their real chance to make something stick to her. I kind of doubt that they've got anything other than "oh, yes you did!", but we'll find out soon enough.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on October 04, 2006 to Local politics | TrackBack