By Juan Montoya
He was in a dead heat in the race for the office of Cameron County District Attorney when incumbent Luis V. Saenz surprised the members of the joint task force working "Operations Dirty Deeds" and publicly arrested Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre and a handful of tax office employees.
Among those were two commissioned tax investigators – Joe Mireles and Pedro Garza – who lost their commissions as a result of the charges against them and were terminated from their employment. For a year, both were left without a job.
After a year, Cameron County had to give them their back pay and reinstate them. The cost to county taxpayers? How about $74,700 for both of them for the one year that they were out of work.
Despite the complaints from some members of the county commissioners court, the $74,700 was taken from the county's general fund, not from Saenz's DA budget."We had two individuals that were with the tax assessors office who were terminated because they didn't have the proper documents...requirements,,,for not being able to do the job that they were doing," Garza asked County Auditor Martha Galarza. "And now we're paying them their back pay after all the charges were dropped, right?"
"Yes, the charges against them were dropped and they made a legal claim on a number of grounds...," answered commissioners court legal counsel. "We were authorized to make our peace to make this issue go away..."
"Where does this money come from, the general fund?," Garza asked.
"yes, the general fund," Galarza answered.
"Don't you think we need to ask the district attorney's office in paying these funds?," Garza persisted. "We lost two employees for almost a whole year and we have to go back and pay them, and you know we lost their services, I don't know it kind of leaves a sour taste, not for the employees, but for the taxpayers of Cameron County having to endure the process of having to go through this..."
"I'm sure it was a sour taste for the employees as well," Galarza replied."
"I'm sure it was, OK," Garza said.
"Going along with commissioner Garza's comments, the public has a right to know what transpired and what's occurring with taxpayers money," said Pct. 4 commissioner Gus Ruiz.
And just last month, when Yzaguirre petitioned the trial court to expunge any record of the charges made against him after his acquittal by a jury in Nueces County, his attorneys found out that the county clerk's office there would not release the records until Cameron County paid for the costs of holding the trial there.
That cost, in addition to the travel and lodging for Cameron County prosecutors, brought the total to county taxpayer for the Yzaguirre debacle to $96,492* (*Does not include personnel salaries of the DA and Asst. DAs, the money paid to expert witnesses, Department of Public Safety officers, Texas Rangers, investigators, etc.)
Below are the costs for the trial in Nueces County charged to Cameron County taxpayers as per the county auditor's office:
Mireles, Garza: $74,700
To the hotel: 14,262.30
Travel: 1,888.20
Adtl Travel 3,999.50
Nueces County1,742.00
21,700
$74,700
$21,892
$96,492*
Numerous critics say that the joint task force of Operations Dirty Deeds was not in agreement with Saenz that Yzaguirre and the two men should be charged at the time.
They say the arrests were carried out prematurely (immaturely?) because Saenz was in a tight race with Carlos Masso in the race for district attorney. Numerous political observers say Yzaguirre's arrest carried Saenz over the top, especially with voters in the northern part of the county.
Did county taxpayers, in effect, subsidize the reelection of DA Saenz by nearly $100,000 as a result of the botched arrests and prosecution that were timed and were carried out for apparent political purposes?
25 comments:
juan the damage is done, taxpayers picked up the tab, so now what? Does that mean Luis Saenz is out? No right so really what can the poor taxpayers do? NADA. Maybe RECALL the Dude? Cameron County Politics as usual. Hey that Del Leon guy is still at the city right? all they have to say is Im sorry, and life goes on. adios
The damage done by our unethical DA has lasting effects on the Yzaguirre, Mireles and Garza families. This is extremely more serious than Cesar de Leon. These men were arrested and humiliated because Luis Saenz used his power to put on a big show to secure his election. This egomaniac of a DA needs to face consequences for the amount of money he wasted during this debacle. He also should publicly apologize to those who he falsely arrested for his own political gain!
It's a given.
Gov't lawyers usually lose their cases.
Staff is unable to attract really sharp lawyers.
While the lawyers working in the DA's office are very capable they are light weights in the legal arena.
Many guilty parties have escaped punishment.
"It is what it is."
This doesn't mean that all the not guilty verdicts are criminals either.
Nor is this limited to Cameron County.
Federal and State are also weak.
And investigators are overwhelmed.
Where's the really good detectives and career investigators.
Thy have trouble making a case to start with.
Then when they go into court with a weak case they're easily defeated.
I think the actions taken by the DA against these men is deplorable and he should be held accountable for the damage he has caused them and their families. He has no regards for the law, and uses his power to manipulate many cases in the county. He knew he would get away with these arrest because of he also knew that there would be absolutely no ramifications for his down right deception, lies and law breaking activities that went into the arrest of the tax office employees. The Cameron County DA needs to be STOPPED before more innocent lives are effected by his poor decision making!
The local politicians seem to understand that no matter what they do, the tax payers will pay. Local attorneys will choose to sue political entities than families that have low income. Luis Saenz is a well seasoned Democrat who understands how to be corrupt and have the citizens pay. Luis Saenz is a SLUG!
Mucho pedo y nada de caca! We talk and talk and blast Saenz from all ends but none of us are involved in trying to do anything to get rid of the idiot. He walks around like "God's gift to Cameron County" when he actually serves his family and who cares about the rest. It is time to really evaluate all our elected officials to make sure we don't get the same caliber of people as we now have our country's president - una vuerguenza! But yet, we have been burned so many time with many officials that now we hesitate. El que se quemo con chocolate caliente, hasta el hocoque se sopla. The only gentleman that is on the up and up right now is Mr. John Wood who does everything by the book and his high moral values. We need to clone him.
YOU all seem surprised, but not me. I estimate it cost taxpayers at least $300,000 on the bogus check charge with two trials. It was all politics, same as Tony. Unfortunately, taxpayers pay for it.
@ Anonymous April 11th 1:02pm
Doesn't matter what attorneys or investigators you have if there is NO evidence......there is NO case!! The DA was aware of this fact and proceeded to WASTE tax paying dollars for political purposes!!
WRONG on so many levels!!
Why do you ask a question as your headline?
Do you not know if they did or didn't? If your don't, why are you writing an article on something you don't know?
What is the point of your article?
Who are you wanting to benefit with this article?
Your style shows your frustration in life - have a drink, have several drinks. Let it out. Its what you do best.
luis saenz should be made to pay back all these funds to the Cameron county taxpayers, anything to win an election, pinche puto.
Just keep your eyes on the general fund (Charlie Cablers pigy bank, when the auditor has finished, as there has been more than one under the table payment made.
Juan speaking of waste- taxpayers monies, what ever happen to the dude with the Fajitagate scandal, had heis day in court yesterday but no one is reporting anything? whats up with that? Is he going to pay back the over $1 million dollars he took? Vamos a ver.
That will only happen when he joins Armando Villalobos, he was tied up with him from the start.
Its the DA that's responsible for going forward with bad cases. The assistants are more than capable. But Saenz is a stubborn hot head. He dont listen. He's the Trump of Cameron County. The Yzaguirre case was all for show. That's exactly why he was able to pull the win. Masso was ahead of him and he got desperate. Even then he was afraid he wouldn't be able to pull the win.
chuy, I agree with you, If they kept that irreverent, racist asshole in the city! What is to be expected! I pray De Leon gets what he deserves. Sooner than later his racist ass will bite him in the ass!
Momma always said "quieren tapar el sol con un dedo"
This was a russe by Saenz to put spotlight on someone else. Everyone knows that Saenz is the crooked one.
Totally agree!
You are absolutely right!! It is a damn shame the way these ppl waste tax payers dollars!!
You got that RIGHT!!
Absolutely!!
Follow the Money and (fajita smoke) all the way to the pachangas held by the
elected parties.....city commissions....county judges....county commissions
....... state reps ...... county judge......
Saen's kept a civil case going as a criminal case,only because Villalobos ordered him to, he was a Villalobos puppet for years.
Hell yeah, the county tax payers subsidized Luis Saenz political stunt!! When will the ppl get tired of getting SCREWED by this elected vindictive, self serving hot mess of a DA!! People are afraid of speaking out or telling their truth because they fear retaliation from Luis and his minions. He needs to GO and he needs to do time for all of his criminal acts!!
I would not want to have coffee with LUIS SAENZ...He is persona nongrata. Stay away from this guy, he's poison.
Luis is a crook and responsible for Joe Alvarado's suicide. He know's and we know...FBI get Luis..He took lot's of money from the Maquinitas and then closed them down. He's a very bad person !!!
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