As Barrientes Vela’s public corruption trial looms, another person alleges shakedown at Rodriguez Park
The picture of Charles Ybarra smiling while surrounded by loved ones should have represented the proud culmination of months of planning for a family reunion. Instead, its a reminder of one of the most stressful days of his life.
Attorneys for Barrientes Vela file motion to have DA Gonzales kicked off of case
The upcoming public corruption trial of indicted ex-Bexar County constable Michelle Barrientes Vela took another turn this week as her attorneys filed a formal motion to have District Attorney Joe Gonzales removed from the case.
The 10 biggest revelations from the Barrientes Vela lawsuit depositions
More than eight hours of civil deposition testimony from Precinct 2 deputies Leonicio Moreno and Christopher De La Cerda included comprehensive descriptions of past scandals involving indicted ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela.
Video depositions reveal new details about alleged mistreatment of deputies at center of Barrientes Vela public corruption case
New details that could play a significant role in the upcoming public corruption trial of ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela are revealed in videotaped depositions obtained by the KSAT 12 Defenders.
LaHood, former DA political consultant spar during Barrientes Vela hearing
Former Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood and the person who helped the current DA knock him out of office sparred Thursday during an evidentiary hearing in the case against indicted former constable Michelle Barrientes Vela.
‘Threat’ against judge from DA’s former consultant further complicates case against Barrientes Vela
The state district judge assigned to the upcoming public corruption trial of ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela said she views comments made over the weekend by the district attorney’s former campaign consultant as a political threat against her.
Bexar County paying out another $347K to Pct. 2 deputies targeted by Barrientes Vela
Bexar County has agreed to pay the Precinct 2 deputies at the center of the public corruption case against Michelle Barrientes Vela more than $347,000, to settle a flurry of lawsuits filed by them against the indicted ex-constable in recent years.
Judge recuses himself from criminal trials of Barrientes Vela, former captain
Bexar County District Court Judge Ron Rangel has recused himself from the upcoming felony perjury trials of former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela and her one-time captain, Marc D. Garcia, the KSAT 12 Defenders confirmed Wednesday.
WATCH: ‘Downfall:’ The story of ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, a KSAT 12 Defenders special
“Downfall” includes an in-depth look at Barrientes Vela’s upcoming felony trial, through interviews with legal and public policy experts as well as her criminal defense team and the former constable herself.
18 months after Barrientes Vela’s removal, new constable still helping traumatized deputies
Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Leticia Vazquez said she walked into a work environment full of chaos and needed far longer than 15 months to correct the problems she inherited from Michelle Barrientes Vela's tenure.
Former Bexar County Precinct 2 constable to be tried on perjury charge first after judge rules to sever offenses
Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela will first go to trial on an aggravated perjury charge after a state district judge this week granted a motion to sever the offenses against her.
The hardest-hitting Defenders investigations of 2020
From an FBI raid of an elected constable’s office and allegations of cronyism in local government to questionable uses of force by law enforcement and accusations of sub-standard conditions at nursing homes that had deadly outbreaks, these are the hardest-hitting investigations of 2020 by the KSAT Defenders.
Democratic candidates for sheriff weigh in after ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela indicted on felony charges
Democratic candidates for sheriff sounded off after ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela was indicted on three felony charges and turned herself in to authorities at the Bexar County Courthouse.
Report: Barrientes Vela used deputies to intimidate store manager who accused her son of shoplifting
Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela had deputies respond to a West Side discount store last winter and file an official complaint against its manager after the woman accused Barrientes Vela's adult son of shoplifting, according to an incident report and multiple sources within the agency.
‘Harassed and retaliated against‘: Precinct 2 deputy confronted at home, stripped of service weapon after filing to run against Barrientes Vela
Bexar County Precinct 2 deputies lined up in front of a fellow deputy's home then stripped him of his service weapon weeks after he filed paperwork to run against their boss in the 2020 election, cell phone camera footage obtained by the KSAT 12 Defenders shows.
Bexar County officials announce plan to replace Precinct 2 Constable Barrientes Vela
Bexar County officials announced Wednesday afternoon that they would appoint a replacement for Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela after she automatically resigned her position when she violated the state's resign-to-run law.
After FBI raid of Pct. 2 office, Wolff urges constable to look ‘at herself’ rather than others
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said Monday's raid by the FBI and the Texas Rangers at the office of controversial Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela "is the first time anything like this has happened since I've been in office."