Attorneys ask for more time in PSJA bribery case
McALLEN — Attorneys for six of the seven defendants in the PSJA bribery case have asked a federal judge for more time to review the more than 500 boxes of evidence and reports before trial.
Rogelio “Roy” Rodriguez’s attorney filed the brief before U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa last week.
Rodriguez says that so far U.S. attorneys have only provided him and other defense attorneys in the case two boxes full of evidence of an estimated 500 boxes. The brief was filed unopposed, which means U.S. Attorney Larry Eastepp agrees with the request.
The seven defendants in the case were arrested June 4 and 5 in connection with a 22-count indictment which alleges the school board members took bribes from contractors — including cash, trips, prostitutes and work on their homes — in exchange for favorable votes on contracts before the school board.
Raul “Ray” Navarro’s attorney, Al Alvarez, was the only one who opposes the motion for more time.
“There is nothing complex about this case,” Alvarez said. “It’s really simple — did he do it or didn’t he? And he didn’t do it.”
The defendants who agreed for more time are:
- Evangelina “Vangie” De Leon, school board trustee
- Ricardo De Leon, Vangie’s former husband
- George Alonzo Hernandez, Donna school board president
- Arturo Guajardo, former PSJA superintendent
- Arnulfo “Arnie” Olivarez, contractor
Under federal guidelines, all defendants have a right to go to trial within 90 days of an indictment.
The six who filed the brief have agreed to waive that.
Since Navarro is opposing the motion for more time, his attorney can file a request to try his case separately if Judge Hinojosa decides to approve the motion for more time.
While not all evidence boxes have been handed over, the U.S. attorneys have allowed defense attorneys to review at least eight binders with hundreds of investigative reports in them.
The brief also mentions that U.S. attorneys have informed the defense attorneys in the case that there may be a superseding indictment, adding additional defendants and charges.
