The State of Texas, through Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz, has filed a petition in the 107th District Court to remove Dr. Sylvia Atkinson from the board of the Brownsville Independent School District.
This is the third petition for removal filed by the DA's Office.Before, the DA had moved to remove San Benito ISD board president Michael Vargas and Brownsville Independent School district member Erasmo Castro. Vargas was removed by a visiting judge and Castro resigned before the removal action concluded. Bothe were charged with DWI, a Class B misdemeanor under the State of Texas.
In each case, a resident who is currently not under indictment can file the petition for removal and the DA must represent them in the removal action.
The online public portal does not give access to discern who the petitioners were, but sources in the DA's Office say that it was Saenz himself who filed it because no citizen came forward to do it.
Many wondered at the incongruity where two board members charged with misdemeanor offenses had been removed by petition while Atkinson, who is facing eight federal felonies, had not had a removal petition filed against her.
The petition filed by the DA late Wednesday is based on Texas Government Code 87.015 which states that any resident of this state who has lived for at least six months can petition the court.
According to the Government Code, a member of a board of trustees may be removed for official misconduct, that is, intentional unlawful behavior relating to official duties by an officer entrusted with the administration of justice or the execution of the law. This term includes an intentional or corrupt failure, refusal, or neglect of an officer to perform a duty imposed (on her) by law.
A federal grand jury indicted Atkinson on Dec. 11, 2019 for one charge of conspiracy, one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, five counts of bribery, and one count of Travel Act-State Law Bribery, the federal equivalent of the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act.
The indictment is now in federal court and has been assigned to Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.
The government alleges Atkinson participated in " along-running criminal scheme to solicit bribes from vendors seeking to obtain contracts with BISD and Rio Hondo ISD. The contracts would provide various goods and services to school districts, including computer tablets, medical teleconferencing services and tutorial services, according to the indictment.
"Atkinson also allegedly solicited and received a $10,000 bribe from an undercover agent related to a film crew's potential use of BISD facilities for filming a purported Hollywood movie."
In the petition for removal, state prosecutors say that in soliciting and accepting bribes from vendors, Atkinson committed official misconduct and that it justifies her removal under chapter 87 of the Local Government Code.
The petition charges that Atkinson also committed Penal Code official misconduct in "exercising discretion in connection with contracts, purchases, payments, claims, or other pecuniary transactions...when she solicited, accepted, or agreed to accept any benefit from a person the public servant knows is interested or is likely to be interested in any contract, purchase, payment, claim, or transaction involving the exercise of (her) discretion."
The petition for removal states that Atkinson did not file a conflict of interest disclosure statement with the records administrator or board secretary as required by law.
"In accepting a gift greater than $100 or earning money greater than $2,500 from an actor seeking to enter into an agreement with BISD, (she) violated Chapter 87 and should be removed." the petition states.
The presiding judge – Visiting Judge Manuel Bañales – may suspend an elected official pending the outcome of the action, the motion states.
"As conditions of her bond (in federal court) (Atkinson) has been instructed not to engage in any business with the BISD and/or on behalf of the BISD," the motion states.
"The Honorable Court should summarily suspend (her) and appoint a temporary appointee for the pendancy of this immediate cause or, in the alternative, set the issue of suspension...for a hearing so a temporary appointee may be named to carry out the duties for the BISD Board of Trustee Position 1."
34 comments:
It's about time this happen, Sylvia Atkinson is a snake, a demonic woman, bad for everybody. She is going to take down lot's of people.
Brownsville: Always the cangrejo. Sad.
Whatever happened to "you day in court"?
Saenz acting as prosecutor, judge and jury. Wait on it, cowboy.
How in the hell is She still on the board? Bet she's got dirt on the rest of the board that's why no one is bringing this up
Minerva needs to resign. She has clearly not acted like a leader for this district. She should have made an official statement regarding Atkinson .and her corruption with BISD. ISN'T MINERA SUPPOSED TO DEFEND THE DISTRICT ? Why instead has she protected Atkinson?
BISD has jumped the shark long ago. It's got a malignancy eating on it that needs to be removed. I used to love the BISD but it is just a home for political oportunists now and no matter how many grear kids, (there are many) or how many well intentioned employees, (there are also many), it has just gotten beyond repair.
There are many shoes ready to drop, the super told employees the district is not getting the coveted A rating this year and the district is financially in trouble. Why say that and continue the hiring of unnecessary positions...deputies, who is running the district,,,super or deputies or board? Who is going to be blamed ? Super is already blaming "No where to be found" principals. Teachers and lower administration will be held responsible. What a mess we have in BISD.
What about all those coaches and teachers that were reassigned so she could put her buddies (from high school) or her buddies husbands into top positions. When are those lawsuits going to be coming out. A lot of good peoples careers were cut down by her so her friends could get jobs. Either BISD is going to quietly make this go away or there are going to be some payouts through lawsuits.
How in the hell is She still on the board?
MINERVA has clearly not acted like a leader for this district.
Why instead has MINERVA protected Atkinson ?
Because MINERVA Is FULL OF CORRUPTION TOO.
MINERVA WE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU, YOU NEED TO STEP DOWN BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT A LEADER YOU ARE A FOLLOWER.
ALL YOU DO IS A SHOW BUT DOESN'T CARING ANY WEIGHT.
ADMINISTRATION WALKS ALL OVER YOU DOES WHATEVER THEY WANT IN BISD.
MINERVA YOU ARE FULL OF SHIT !!!
Minerva show some action you are not acting like a leader for the district.
Puro politician talk talk no Action.
Cannot wait to vote you out if Atkinson does not take you down.
WHERE IS THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS TWO BARBIES'S ( DUPUTIES )?
THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS DUPUTIES HAVE DONE NOTHING FOR US IN BISD.
WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY FOR THIS DISTRICT.
WE NEED THEM OUT AND LETS GET SOMEONE LOCALLY.
There is another district that needs to be scrutinized...Rio Hondo ISD. There are a lot of unanswered questions concerning this district in recent times. I wander if Atkinson will “sing” a Rio Hondo tune also.
Dr. Gutierez was hired by the Atkinson Click because they knew they could do with him what they could not do with Zendejas. Salazar had a lot to do with that cause he feared Zendejas. Zendejas was never allowed to hire any more area administrators when a position was open but Gutierrez brought his two side kicks in immediately. No wonder the district is in financial problems with so many top administrators.
As for Atkinson, let's just hope that the April date is not changed again. They keep moving it in hopes people forget about it, but after a snake bite, it is not easy to forget the pain. Yes, Minerva, she should get rid of SA.
Atkinson is a toxic individual. Ever where she’s been she has left behind moral and ethical contamination. She corrupts institutions and individuals. The once pure Drue Brown is now ethically poisoned and apparently beyond redemption as she continues her support of Atkinson and their bagman Baltazar. Atkinson and all who support her must go. The clean up needs to begin. Guilty or not guilty, the evil in her remains. We must elect people who are not willing to sacrifice morals and ethics for power. So sad.
Hotel California nothing short. Shut it down, TEA should come down here and shut this HOTEL down...
The Superintendent is sleeping with at least one of his deputies. It’s the only way to move up at BISD. Bedtime Covers Culture. He should have slept with Atkinson and Minerva.
Sylvia Atkinson is a very,very bad person. She will bring down Rio Hondo ISD and it's superintendent and other people (BISD). She is starting to sing, she won't go down alone.
Saens watch your back or you will be joining Villalobos.
Can we get Dr. Zendejas back? A rated district because of her. Now you know why she was ousted. It was because of this greedy individual. The truth always prevails!
Oh well, business as usual among the Browntown leadership. Be as crooked as you can until the Feds catch up with you. She is not the first and will not be the last. The pendejos and pendejas never learn, they just keep doing the Mexican thing.
Abrazo, abrazo, beso, beso now get the fuck out of here bitch, you been caught.
BISD has been the most corrupt governing board. you would think after the Limas and Villalobos case our local politicians would sustain from this corruption.
Wow, juan el DA saenz grew some BALLS no pos wow.
Good job Luis !
Baltazar Salazar is being paid to much because the board is asking him for a kick back that's why the board approved a high salary for him.
He is full OF CORRUPTION TOO.
He plays the game with them and gives them big kick backs for the political campaign and pays for NFL tickets for their families.
Lets not forget the private boat Yacht at the sea ranch marina for the school board members and friends.
( All this with taxpayer money )
TEA NEEDS TO TAKE OVER !
BISD is filled with lazy vultures wanting a higher pay level. Those vultures are so lazy and have been moving up cuz of family pull. The work culture inside in toxic and brings BISD down gacho.
Luis, no one within the BISD community would ever dare to go and file a petition to have Sylvia removed. They would all of a sudden feel the needle pricks from the Voo-Doo doll that the "Snake" likes to use. Everyone seems to be afraid of her for some reason, and hopefully it is because you don't want to lower to her level, but no one is going to fare well if they speak against her. I can just imagine her Mom sitting in court taking the names of those of us who plan to attend the trial, just so they can get back at them - unless they sit behind the defendant.
And, yes, Pure-Drue has now become a true disappointment to all of us who used to hold her high in her professional standards. Everyone knows what she did to Dr. Z was a low-blow and that she turned against her to back up Sylvia, who also hurt her comadre. How can you, Druw, now support someone who hurt someone close to you? That tells many of us never to rely on you for anything anymore. You have lost a lot of friends throughout BISD.
BISD is like the coronavirus out of control with no cure for now.
Good luck students and teachers and school principals.
This school board is worthless.
We want them all out ASAP if not all students will be attending idea charter schools.
Minnie-Winnie, everyone knows that you wear los pantalones en tu casa, but you let them drop to your ankles when your Dictator Friend came on board. It is so obvious that you are in there for your own good. You also went against your friend who helped you out with your campaign contributions for justice of the peace, so be careful that when that trial comes around again, your name will once again pop out. Is that what your Father taught you?
A retired law enforcement officer who once swore to uphold the law is now pushing for loopholes and hiding her hands under the table. She learned that from Sylvia, whom you stupidly took the blow for the actions the ordered you to take.
The Scumbag Rene Oliveira is looking for a few job and he will give kickbacks and free Muff dives.
Yes, a revolution. We support it. It's going to happen.
Sylvia didn’t want Zendejas around because she was not going to allow her foolishness, she saw right through Sylvia. Pena went along with Sylvia as she always does.
wow Luis Saenz, el Gran Huevo all of the sudden after the elections cool arrow
Juanito we need a survey as to who writes better and more insulting the fire dept, police dept, city administrators or BISD???
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