Medina County judge accused of vote harvesting
A Medina County judge is fighting his indictment and suspension in connection with an alleged “vote harvesting” operation.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office is accusing Tomas Ramirez, justice of the peace for Precinct 4 in Medina County, and three women of committing election fraud during the 2018 Medina County Republican primary election.
According to an indictment, Ramirez and the women ran a vote harvesting operation that worked out of assisted living centers. Details of what they are accused of doing were not available.
Ramirez was indicted Feb. 9 by a Bandera County grand jury on charges of engaging in organized election fraud, unlawfully assisting voter ballot by mail and 17 counts of unlawful possession of a ballot or ballot envelope.
He was suspended from his seat as judge by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct on Feb. 23 because of the pending criminal matter.
“I was stunned by the allegations because there is absolutely no truth to them,” Ramirez, who has been an attorney for 27 years, said in a statement. “I entered the race for JP because I wanted to serve Medina County and make the office function better for its citizens. I feel I have done exactly that up this point. For people who know me, these allegations are absurd. To those who don’t, it provides reason to sneer and hate.”
Jacqueline Habersham, executive director of the commission, said Ramirez filed a written request for a post-suspension hearing, which was held March 11. The commission has 60 days from the close of the hearing to make a decision and notify Ramirez whether the suspension will be continued, terminated or modified, she said.
A court date has not yet been set. Ramirez has hired attorney Mark Stevens to represent him.
The Bandera County Sheriff’s Office said Ramirez and two others, Leonor Rivas Garza and Eva Ann White Martinez, turned themselves in on Feb. 11. They were released on personal recognizance bonds the same day.
A fourth person accused in the case, Mary Balderrama, turned herself in on Feb. 22 and was released, authorities said.
Balderrama, Garza and Martinez are charged with numerous election-related offenses, including engaging in organized election fraud, illegal voting, unlawful possession of a ballot or ballot envelope and enhanced election fraud for multiple offenses in the same election, authorities said.
Martinez faces 64 charges, including purportedly acting as an agent, tampering with a governmental record with intent to harm or defraud, and fraudulent use of a mail ballot application involving a voter 65 years of age or older.
Balderrama’s charges, of which there are 24, also include unlawfully assisting voter voting ballot by mail and tampering with a governmental record, the sheriff ’s office said.
Garza, who was charged with 17 counts overall, also was indicted on a charge of fraudulent use of an absentee ballot by mail.