Posted on 02/15/2007 3:57:51 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
REFUGIO - A Refugio County grand jury Thursday indicted Precinct 4 Commissioner Raymond Villarreal on three charges of tampering with a government document, a state jail felony, and four counts of illegal voting, a third-degree felony, stemming from the March Democratic Primary, said District Attorney Mike Sheppard.
Villarreal received 293 votes in the election to unseat the incumbent, John Reyna, who received 272 votes.
The charges allege illegal preparation and voting by mail-in ballots, the district attorney said
Democrat Crime Syndicate Member MO BUMP!
Voter fraud ping.
South Texas politics ---- some things never change.
'Rat Ping!
If you want on, or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Juan saw Pancho sitting on the street crying.
Juan:What's the matter Pancho?
Pancho: My grandpa came back from the grave to vote for LBJ and didn't stop by to see me!
So....does he still get to be a Commisioner?
They're called politigueras. Attorney General Abbott was asked to investigate in 12 Texas counties over complaints about politiqueras and mail-in ballots in the 2006 democrat primary.
Don't know, Cindy. Stay tuned for the latest.
South Texas....hmmm....this is where LBJ cheated his way into that Texas senate seat [not the same county but So. Texas].
"So....does he still get to be a Commisioner?"
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA021707.01A.vote_charges.127c8c1.html
County officials said Villarreal would continue to earn his $34,957 annual salary unless he's convicted on the felony charges. He then could be removed from office.
Sheppard said the voter fraud investigation began in August after the Sheriff's Department received a complaint alleging irregularities with mail-in ballots used in the March 7 Democratic primary.
Villarreal challenged incumbent John Reyna for the Precinct 4 commissioner's seat and won, 293 to 272 — a difference of 21 votes.
"Essentially the scheme was that the candidate would get mail-in ballots for people he didn't even think were going to vote," Sheppard said, adding Villarreal fraudulently applied for mail-in ballots, filled them out and returned them to be counted.
The district attorney said investigators found more than 20 questionable ballots.
"This may very well have been a scheme that ultimately resulted in him winning this office," Sheppard said.
Refugio County Judge Rene Mascorro said he briefly spoke with Villarreal before the arrest and said the commissioner didn't say anything about the allegations or his status as an elected official.
"Of course, the commissioners court will conduct its business as usual until the outcome of this case," Mascorro said. "Right now he remains a commissioner."
Rachel Garcia, the elections administrator for Refugio County, said Villarreal was elected in the November general election after defeating a write-in candidate.
The sheriff said no irregularities were reported in the November election.
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