Post by Logan on Jul 3, 2016 8:12:14 GMT -6
RIO GRANDE CITY — After turning himself in for violating his probation over the weekend, Starr County Justice of the Peace Salvador Zarate Jr. was ordered to be released when a motion to revoke his probation dismissed.
“There was no reason to file that motion at all,” said Defense Attorney J.M. “Chuy” Alvarez. “It’s a little complicated in the sense that his judgment is not final yet; it’s not a final conviction, so nobody can revoke his probation.”
Alvarez stated the judgment was not final because of Zarate’s motion for a new trial.
The 229th Judicial District Attorney’s Office previously stated that the appeal only stayed his removal from office, but the judge apparently disagreed, signing an order to release Zarate on July 5. The DA’s office could not be reached for comment.
Zarate was convicted on two counts of bribery in April. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Christmas Eve 2014 when he accepted $500 after lowering the bonds of two defendants.
A small bag of cocaine was also found in his car, but Zarate was acquitted on the charge of cocaine possession.
Read more: www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/valley/article_0fe6c01e-3f31-11e6-b62e-e7d9c0368e5d.html
“There was no reason to file that motion at all,” said Defense Attorney J.M. “Chuy” Alvarez. “It’s a little complicated in the sense that his judgment is not final yet; it’s not a final conviction, so nobody can revoke his probation.”
Alvarez stated the judgment was not final because of Zarate’s motion for a new trial.
The 229th Judicial District Attorney’s Office previously stated that the appeal only stayed his removal from office, but the judge apparently disagreed, signing an order to release Zarate on July 5. The DA’s office could not be reached for comment.
Zarate was convicted on two counts of bribery in April. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Christmas Eve 2014 when he accepted $500 after lowering the bonds of two defendants.
A small bag of cocaine was also found in his car, but Zarate was acquitted on the charge of cocaine possession.
Read more: www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/valley/article_0fe6c01e-3f31-11e6-b62e-e7d9c0368e5d.html