SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Grand Jury indicted two felony cases against a 56-year-old attorney for felony theft and fiduciary misapplication, district attorneys say.
Authorities said one of the indictments is the result of an allegation that Joe Jesse Ponce III took funds representing disputed divorce money from a victim without her consent.
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The other indictment stems from an allegation the victim's family, at Ponce's request, gave Ponce money that was to be used to pay off the restitution, as well as facilitate the release of their family member from jail, attorneys said. Instead, the family said Ponce kept the money for his own personal use and did not pay anything toward the restitution owed on the case.
In the first case, theft and fiduciary misapplication ($20,000 to $100,000) are third-degree felonies punishable by confinement in prison for not less than two years and not more than ten years, and a fine not to exceed $10,000, attorneys said.
In the second case, attorneys said theft and misapplication of fiduciary duties ($1,500 to $20,000) are state jail felonies punishable by confinement in the state jail for not less than 180 days and not more than two years and a fine not to exceed $10,000.