Ahumada retrial jury selected
A jury was selected today in state district court for the retrial of Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr., who faces three felony charges.
State prosecutors and defense attorneys selected a jury of six women and six men from a pool of 120 prospective jurors. Two alternates also were selected.
The state will begin to call witnesses shortly after the start of Tuesday’s proceedings at 9 a.m. in the 107th District Court. Visiting judge Robert C. Pate of Corpus Christi is presiding over the case.
Ahumada is charged with theft, abuse of official capacity and misapplication of fiduciary property in connection with a $26,139 check dated Oct. 22, 2008, that the city issued to city vendor Tarsia Technical Industries Inc. of New York. The check was deposited in Ahumada’s business account instead, on Oct. 28.
This will be the second trial for the mayor. Pate declared a mistrial Oct. 15 after the jury deadlocked.
Ahumada expressed optimism early today. "I’m looking forward to going through the process and being vindicated," he said, thanking people for their support and prayers.
Special Prosecutor Luis Saenz declined comment, but on Friday, District Attorney Armando Villalobos said his office looked forward to the mayor’s retrial.
