Former DA reindicted: New indictment provides more specific details of charges
Former Cameron County District Attorney Yolanda de Leon has been reindicted on charges of tampering with governmental records and perjury.
The new indictment handed down on Sept. 10 replaces the original indictments that were handed down in July.
The latest indictments are more specific and give time periods that were not listed in the original paperwork.
The first charges her with 10 counts of tampering with government records. The second charges her with two counts of perjury.
"The new indictments supersede the existing charges. They do not contain new allegations; however, they clear any ambiguities that may have existed with the original language," District Attorney Armando Villalobos said in a statement.
The indictments come after confidential information was released to district attorney candidate Peter Zavaletta during the March primary election.
"In the rush to get her indicted they made errors, some pretty big errors and now they are scrambling trying to correct those errors," said Israel Cano III, de Leon's defense attorney, on the revised indictments.
That information was used in political advertisements that appeared in several newspapers including The Brownsville Herald and the Valley Morning Star.
The information belonged to the Cameron County's Child Advocacy Center and is not for publication, District Attorney Armando Villalobos said in a previous interview.
Villalobos cited the state's family code on misuse of official information. The code states that "the files, reports, records, communications, and working paper used or developed in providing services under this chapter are confidential and not subject to public release."
In a written statement released earlier by de Leon, she said "I believe in the American justice system and look forward to proving my innocence. As the facts of this case become public, it will become apparent that these charges are false and should not have been brought against me."
Zavaletta was to be indicted also, but his name was removed because he agreed to be a witness in the case.
Last month, it was discovered that Zavaletta had entered his second month of probation under a pre-trial diversion agreement he made with the Cameron County District Attorney's office, court documents show.
The pre-trial diversion supervision program is offered to first-time offenders who have not been charged with any violent crimes and have no criminal record.
Under the program, the individual is placed on non-court order probation and is under supervision by a probation officer. In the state of Texas, pre-trial diversion cannot to exceed 24 months.
Documents show that Zavaletta has been on pre-trial diversion for one year.
Zavaletta had been charged with a Class B misdemeanor of distributing or misusing confidential information. If he successfully completes his probationary period, the misdemeanor charge will be dismissed.
Zavaletta ran against Villalobos in the March 4 primary election.
In March, de Leon was named in a civil lawsuit to recover monetary damages in which she is accused of providing the same allegedly confidential information to Zavaletta.
Also named in the lawsuit are Zavaletta and Freedom Communications Inc., parent company of The Brownsville Herald and the Valley Morning Star.
Counsel for the Herald and the Star has defended publication of the political ads - and the disclosure of the district attorney's records on his handling of complaints - as proper exercise of First Amendment rights.
