By Juan Montoya
Fearful that the case against Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre and three other men arrested with him January 6 would not survive an evidentiary hearing before a magistrate scheduled for Thursday, District Attorney Luis V. Saenz presented evidence to a grand jury a day before that issued a 24-count indictment Wednesday.
The hearing had been scheduled before Magistrate Cordova at 3:30 p.m. for this Thursday in the 103rd District Court.
Defense attorneys for the four men – Tax Assessor-Collector Yzaguirre, county tax investigator Sgt. Pedro Garza, dealer/notary supervisor Omar Sanchez-Paz and Chief Lt. Jose Mireles – had complained that they would not have enough time to question the evidence presented to magistrate Alfredo Padilla Jan.6 when they were first arrested.
According to sources close to the defense, the attorneys felt that once Cordova saw the evidence that allowed Texas Department of Public safety Special Agent Rene A. Olivarez to get a warrant signed by 404th District Court Judge Elia Cornejo-Lopez, the charges might be dismissed outright.
So, apparently, did Saenz, they say.
"Saenz knew that the evidence was iffy and he rushed the process and presented it to the grand jury on Tuesday," said our source. "Once he got the indictments from the grand jury, the evidentiary hearing was cancelled."
The rush with which Saenz moved on the case against the four men differs markedly from the pace at which the DA's Office has handled the nine counts against informant Melquides Sosa. Sosa has been identified as the CI through the indictments issued by the grand jury as the man who left $100 bills in envelopes on top of Yzaguirre's desk at least five times while cooperating with the DA's Office.
Sosa – who was arrested in August 2015 –has yet to be indicted by a grand jury and was one of the witnesses who had been subpoenaed by the four men's defense attorneys for the hearing ebfore Cordova.
"Luis didn;t want to take a chance that Codrova would dismiss the cases and rushed them through the grand jury instead," they said.
The men's attorneys say that the cases have been politicized because Saenz is fearful that he will lose the Democratic Party's primary election this March 1.
Early voting in that election begins Feb. 16.
5 comments:
Luis Saenz needs to put the push on this indictment, because if this fades before the primary, Saenz loses. Just last night on the local news was the candidate for Sheriff...Chambers claiming that he was indicted because of politics, he is running against Saenz former investigator. The only think Saenz hasn't put his picture on is a milk carton....and there is no evidence that all the media is helping him, because his campaign is all smoke and mirrors and very little judicial facts to support his re-election. Luis Saenz has bitten the Dumbokratic hand that has fed him for years....and we don't think the traditional and corrupt Dumbokrats will put up with Saenz arrogance and political bullshit.
WTF is Saenz fearful about with Cordova. Cordova has had Saens political ad on his office for over a month.
Montoya, you've been bashing David Sanchez for using his judge position for supporting candidates. Take a look at Cordova's lawn. As a judge, he has no shame in supporting candidates. Drive by his office in San Bene. Shameful.
There was no rush dumb ass. Grand jury meets on Wednesdays.Tell Jr. ANDRADE to suck it and pay the bonds his bonds. That is taxpayer money!
Luis Saenz is gone as DA..A good guy but, He is his worst enemy, sorry Luis,I voted for you, not this time, neither are my friends. Have a nice life, take care of your family..That is more important, than public life.
Ahhhh pinche Luis mamon...Puro pinche show con el judge. Se an de ir juntos a hecharse unas birongas y fumarse un churro y hablar de como hace pendejo a la gente...el camarada dice que Luis le encanta fumar mota.. Me cae bien Luis Sainz por rata y marihuano
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