Pct. 6 rivals trade attacks
Constable race includes talk of misconduct
With the start of early voting days away, the constable’s race in Harris County Precinct 6 is heating up, with both candidates trading accusations of misconduct and dishonesty.
The east Houston constable seat is no stranger to controversy. After serving nearly 26 years, Victor Trevino resigned from the position in 2014 in the wake of a public corruption conviction.
Now his wife, Silvia, a Democrat and 20-year veteran of the Houston Police Department who served more than eight years at the Precinct 7 Constable’s Office, is in a hotly contested race for her husband’s job. She is facing off against Richard “Rick” Gonzales, a 30-year HPD veteran.
At a news conference Wednesday, Gonzales revived discussion of Victor Trevino’s conviction in attacking his opponent, suggesting Silvia Trevino may have been complicit in the corruption.
Victor Trevino pleaded guilty to misapplication of fiduciary property in 2014 after failing to document how he spent thousands of dollars in donations meant for his charity, Constable’s Athletic Recreational and Education Events Inc. Three other charges were dropped following his plea.
Investigators said Trevino repeatedly cashed checks meant for CARE into his personal bank account, and then shortly thereafter traveled to casinos to gamble on slot machines. Between 2008 and 2011, Trevino used at least $124,000 intended for his charity for personal use, investigators said.
Victor Trevino associated his guilt with a lack of oversight, and despite evidence presented by investigators, never directly admitted to using the charity money for gambling.
Silvia Trevino did not face any charges for the misconduct.
But pointing to a series of public documents subpoenaed from L’Auberge Du Lac Hotel Casino Resort for the investigation against Victor Trevino, Gonzales said Silvia Trevino may have also gambled with charity funds.
“We cannot gamble with Silvia Trevino anymore,” Gonzales said.
‘Rebellious behavior’
In a statement regarding the allegations, Silvia Trevino said that neither she nor her husband has taken that amount of money to the casino or spent the amount of money alleged.
“To even suggest that we have taken or spent that amount of money is outright preposterous,” Trevino said.
Silvia Trevino added that neither she nor her husband “have ever misused any charity monies.”
During opening arguments in Victor Trevino’s trial, prosecutors told jurors they would see proof that checks and donations made to the charity seemed to go directly to slot machines in a Louisiana casino, “sometimes the next day.”
Victor Trevino soon admitted guilt to the third-degree felony charged against him, and was required to surrender his peace officer’s license.
While Silvia Trevino touts her husband’s 26 years of experience, her website fails to mention his conviction, stating that he “retired” from Precinct 6. Similarly, her website says she “retired” after 8 ½ years with Precinct 7, but county records show her record is more complicated.
According to a portion of Silvia Trevino’s personnel file obtained by the Chronicle, Precinct 7 Constable May Walker terminated Silvia Trevino in July 2013 for insubordination and sowing dissension.
“Your rebellious behavior, emotional outbursts of crying and erroneous reporting of the facts, has caused me to become gravely concerned for my safety, as well as the safety of those employees whom you have wrongly accused,” Walker wrote in the termination letter.
Trevino said she faced retaliation from Walker after she participated in grand jury testimony in a criminal investigation against Walker. The probe was later dropped.
Trevino said three weeks after filing a complaint, Walker “fabricated” a countercomplaint, leading to her termination.
Walker dismissed Trevino’s explanation, and said her termination was based solely on violations of policies and procedures, adding that others who testified in the investigation were not terminated.
Stolen backpacks
In response to allegations raised against her, Trevino said Gonzales should be scrutinized for his part in an ongoing HPD criminal investigation regarding stolen backpacks.
“I’m not involved in anything,” Gonzales said when asked about Trevino’s claims. “I’m not a suspect. I’m not being investigated.” HPD was unable to immediately verify Trevino’s claims.