Gag order issued in Brownsville mayor theft case
BROWNSVILLE -- While Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr., his attorney and a state prosecutor were ordered not to talk about the mayor's check scandal Monday, he looks forward to the "end of this chapter" of his life where he faces criminal charges.
"I just want my day in court as it should be and as all citizens deserve, but I feel good. I feel the love, warmth and support of the people and community," Ahumada said.
For now, however, he faces a new trial date of Oct. 12 felony charges of abuse of official capacity, misapplication of fiduciary property and theft.
The charges against the mayor stem from a $26,139 check that the city issued to Tarsia Technical Industries Inc. of Hauppauge, N.Y, on Oct. 22, 2008, that ended up in Ahumada's business bank account on Oct. 28.
The mayor pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Ahumada's comment Monday outside the 103rd state District Court at the Cameron County Judicial Building came just minutes before visiting Judge Robert Pate of Corpus Christi issued a gag order, preventing the parties from speaking to the press about the case.
Pate issued the gag order at the request of Luis Saenz, who appeared as the state prosecutor on the case Monday.
Saenz asked for the order after Ahumada's attorney, Ed Cyganiewicz told Pate that he might file a motion seeking a change of venue. A change of venue would mean that the mayor's trial would not be held in Cameron County if the court found that the mayor could not obtain a fair and impartial trial here.
Emma Perez-Treviño is a reporter for The Brownsville Herald.
