A former Bexar County constable who was at the center of numerous KSAT investigations is running for state representative.

A state district judge on Friday denied a motion to remove Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales from prosecuting the sons of Michelle Barrientes Vela, stating past comments from the DA did not rise to the level of due process violations.

Former Bexar constable Michelle Barrientes Vela has been formally acquitted of criminal charges, after the state’s highest appeals court declined to review a lower court’s decision to overturn her convictions last year, sources told KSAT Wednesday.

Bexar County’s Civil Service Commission on Monday upheld the 2020 termination of the Precinct 2 captain indicted alongside Michelle Barrientes Vela.

A new ruling gives a once-convicted ex-Bexar County constable the chance to rise from her downfall.

The sentence for a former Bexar County constable convicted on two felony counts of tampering with records was thrown out by a Texas appeals court Thursday.

A former reserve deputy with the Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office testified Monday that ex-captain Marc Garcia took steps to cover up a training accident and later ordered the deputy and other members of the agency to destroy records.

Marc Garcia was indicted at the same time as ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela in early 2020, but their paths have taken vastly different courses since then.

The three adult sons of convicted ex-Bexar County constable Michelle Barrientes Vela were arrested Monday night, accused of assaulting San Antonio police officers who responded to a paramedic in trouble call at a northwest side auto dealership.

Ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela’s appeal of her felony convictions has been moved back to Bexar County temporarily while court reporters attempt to address issues with the written transcript of the case.

A Bexar County visiting judge on Monday affirmed a previous judge’s decision to hold a Texas Ranger in contempt of court for flubbing his testimony during Michelle Barrientes Vela’s public corruption trial last year.

A judge on Wednesday denied a motion for a new trial for disgraced ex-Bexar County constable Michelle Barrientes Vela.

Convicted felon Michelle Barrientes Vela has asked a judge for a new trial, weeks after she was sentenced to five years probation and 90 days in jail in her tampering case.

Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela was sentenced Wednesday to five years probation, 90 days in jail and 600 hours of community service.

Update:

The sentencing of convicted ex-Bexar County constable Michelle Barrientes Vela resumed Tuesday, as her defense team began calling witnesses on her behalf.

Ex-Precinct 2 constable faces between two years of probation and 10 years in prison

Here’s a look at some of the top moments that took place in Bexar County courtrooms in 2022.

Ranger Bradley Freeman, whose testimony was crucial in getting a jury this fall to convict Barrientes Vela on two felony counts of tampering with records, apologized to the court for mentioning a separate official oppression case while that jury was present.

Former Bexar County Precinct 2 captain Marc D. Garcia was prepared to testify Tuesday that his former boss, ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, directed him to investigate her political opponent and include evidence not related to the possible criminal offense, court records obtained Wednesday by KSAT Investigates show.

In what can best be described as a massive blow to the prosecution in the Michelle Barrientes Vela public corruption trial, ex-captain Marc D. Garcia was granted immunity by the state Tuesday morning only to have the judge overseeing the case exclude his testimony hours later.

The start and stop sentencing of convicted ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela resumes Tuesday with a key hearing that will take place without courtroom spectators or cameras present.

The sentencing of convicted felon Michelle Barrientes Vela was paused again Thursday, as her attorneys and prosecutors were granted time to finalize arguments over whether a key witness will be allowed to testify against her.

Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Capt. Marc D. Garcia was ordered to appear before Judge Velia Meza when the sentencing hearing of resumes his former boss, Michelle Barrientes Vela at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Despite being sworn in, former Bexar County Precinct 2 captain Marc D. Garcia left court Wednesday without taking the witness stand against his former boss, Michelle Barrientes Vela.

Former Bexar County Precinct 2 captain Marc D. Garcia appears to have turned state’s witness and is scheduled to testify against Michelle Barrientes Vela Wednesday during the sentencing phase of her public corruption trial.

Former Bexar County Precinct 2 captain Marc D. Garcia appears to have turned state’s witness and is scheduled to testify against Michelle Barrientes Vela Wednesday during the sentencing phase of her public corruption trial.

Sentencing resumed Tuesday afternoon for disgraced ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela.

A former Precinct 2 deputy accused an attorney for Michelle Barrientes Vela of asking leading questions during day three of sentencing for the convicted ex-constable.

Sentencing resumed Monday afternoon for disgraced ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, weeks after a Bexar County jury took less than four hours to convict her on two counts of felony tampering with records.

A corporal with the Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office testified Tuesday that she and other deputies witnessed then-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela interrogate a discount store manager after the manager accused the elected official’s son of shoplifting.

Sentencing began Monday for Michelle Barrientes Vela, the former Bexar County Precinct 2 constable convicted earlier this month on two counts of felony tampering with records.

Sentencing continues Tuesday for Michelle Barrientes Vela less than two weeks after a jury convicted her on two felony charges of tampering with government records..

A Bexar County jury on Thursday found former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela guilty on two felony counts of tampering with records.

A Bexar County jury began deliberations Thursday afternoon in the felony tampering with records case against indicted ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela.

The prosecution rested its case Wednesday afternoon in the public corruption trial of Michelle Barrientes Vela, capping off seven days of testimony that ranged from methodical to explosive and included a mistrial nearly being declared.

A Texas Ranger testified Tuesday that park security records handed over by Michelle Barrientes Vela in the summer of 2019 did not match records he had already obtained from a county whistleblower.

A deputy with the Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office testified Monday that he worked security at Rodriguez Park between eight and ten times while serving in a reserve capacity, and was not compensated.

A former Bexar County Precinct 2 clerk who sought out the Texas Rangers to expose “wrongdoing” by Michelle Barrientes Vela testified Friday that she wore a secret recording device repeatedly in the summer of 2019 but did not tape the then-constable saying anything incriminating.

A former Precinct 2 clerk who provided critical information to law enforcement about the inner workings of Michelle Barrientes Vela’s administration testified Thursday that the then-constable was left “rattled” after learning she was under criminal investigation in the summer of 2019.

A San Antonio man who rented pavilions at Rodriguez Park for decades of special events testified Wednesday that former Bexar County Pct. 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela and other uniformed deputies intimidated him and his family as they prepared to celebrate the Easter holiday in 2019.

An attorney for indicted ex-Precinct 2 constable Michelle Barrientes Vela argued Tuesday that the prosecutor and lead investigator in the case teamed up to set a trap for his client and came away with nothing more than a few written records.

The highly anticipated public corruption trial of indicted Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela is being heard in a Bexar County courtroom.

The former Bexar County Precinct 2 constable, who stepped down in late 2019 after triggering the state’s resign-to-run law, faces two felony counts of tampering with evidence.

An attorney for the former Bexar County Precinct 2 constable provided evidence to Judge Velia Meza on July 21, including multiple rounds of live ammunition as well as letters in which someone threatened to kill Barrientes Vela.

Dallas police late Thursday released a 10-page report detailing an altercation outside a hotel earlier this month involving Michelle Barrientes Vela that led to the indicted ex-constable being barred from leaving Bexar County ahead of her public corruption trial next month.

Michelle Barrientes Vela is now prohibited from leaving Bexar County and attending political events after the judge overseeing her upcoming public corruption trial set special conditions of bond during a court hearing Thursday morning.

The lead up to the felony trial of Michelle Barrientes Vela took a bizarre turn Friday after she was accused of accosting a Texas House of Representatives candidate and a prominent community advocate who were in Dallas to attend the Texas Democratic Convention.

Attorneys for the one-time Bexar County Precinct 2 constable successfully argued during a 90-minute hearing before Judge Velia Meza decided that they did not have sufficient time to analyze hours of undercover audio recordings from the case.

This newsletter brings you the biggest stories in the criminal justice system in San Antonio, Bexar County and beyond

From the Otis McKane death penalty trial to the retirement of Paul Venema, 2021 was a memorable one.

The trials of Barrientes Vela and her former captain, Marc D. Garcia, had been scheduled to begin Monday but were delayed again due to an ongoing trial in 226th District Court.

A visiting judge has denied a motion to have the Bexar County district attorney disqualified from the public corruption case of Michelle Barrientes Vela, setting the state for the indicted ex-constable to finally go to trial nearly two years after she and a member of her administration were indicted.

Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales this week pushed back on an attempt to remove his office from prosecuting indicted ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, claiming the defense’s motion to have him disqualified failed to provide evidence of any conflict of interest.

Months before Bexar County officials settled multiple lawsuits filed against indicted ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, she and her former captain repeatedly invoked their 5th Amendment privileges, taped depositions obtained by the KSAT 12 Defenders show.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The high profile public corruption case against ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela added another level of intrigue on Thursday, after the judge agreed to hear testimony about whether comments made by the district attorney’s former campaign consultant unduly influenced the proceedings.

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 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.

Bexar County prosecutors have dismissed the most serious public corruption charge against indicted ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, court records obtained by the KSAT 12 Defenders Wednesday confirm.

The public corruption trial of Michelle Barrientes Vela was delayed another two months on Friday, days after new criminal indictments were filed in the case.

Bexar County has begun settling lawsuits with both former and current Precinct 2 deputies targeted during Michelle Barrientes Vela’s nearly three years in office, multiple officials confirmed Thursday.

The trial of former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes-Vela and her former captain, Mark Garcia, has moved a step closer to the beginning.

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.

Editor’s note: This story is part of an investigative series about the criminal case against ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela. AdOrganizing a property room that was in disarray has also been one of Vazquez’s priorities the past 18 months. As Vazquez settles in for a full term in office that runs through the end of 2024, helping traumatized deputies remains one of her focuses. Vazquez agreed with an assessment from the Defenders that deputies who served under Barrientes Vela appeared to be shell shocked and showed signs of having Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Moreno and De La Cerda declined requests to be interviewed for the investigative special since both are still involved in pending civil lawsuits against Barrientes Vela.

Michelle Barrientes Vela made several rivals — and a few allies, too — during her tenure as Bexar County Pct. 2 Constable.

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s note: This story is part of an investigative series about the criminal case against ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela. In late August 2019, during a press conference in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, then-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela forced county officials to examine whether she had triggered the state’s resign-to-run law. SIGN UP FOR THE FREE DEFENDERS NEWSLETTER HEREThe patchWithin hours of winning the 2016 election for Bexar County Constable Precinct 2, Barrientes Vela claimed on Facebook that she was the first female constable in county history. Barrientes Vela responded that something needed to happen now and instructed Garcia to proceed with trying to get an arrest warrant, records show. AdREAD MORE ON THE DOWNFALL PAGE:Downfall: The story of ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela airs March 25 at 9 pm on KSATA timeline of Michelle Barrientes Vela’s controversial time in officeBarrientes Vela, former captain plan aggressive defense at abuse of office trial10 controversies surrounding embattled Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela

Attorneys for Michelle Barrientes Vela and Marc D. Garcia said they plan an aggressive defense at trial. Editor’s note: This story is part of an investigative series about the criminal case against ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela. Ballantyne pushed back on the two charges of tampering with evidence filed against Barrientes Vela, claiming during the interview that records related to Barrientes Vela working security at Rodriguez Park were not tampered with. AdThe warrant used by Texas Rangers and the FBI to raid Barrientes Vela’s office in September 2019 indicates that the man who paid Barrientes Vela for Easter security was cooperating with the state investigation of Barrientes Vela. AdThe indictment states Barrientes Vela and Garcia knowingly subjected Moreno to mistreatment during his April 2019 arrest.

The KSAT 12 Defenders special "downfall" looks into the rise and fall of Pct. 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela. Editor’s note: This story is part of an investigative series about the criminal case against ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela. On March 25 at 9 p.m., the KSAT 12 Defenders investigative special, “Downfall,” will air for the first time. AdREAD MORE ON THE DOWNFALL PAGE:Downfall: The story of ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela airs March 25 at 9 pm on KSATThe most unusual acts of Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela during her troubled tenureBarrientes Vela, former captain plan aggressive defense at abuse of office trial10 controversies surrounding embattled Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s note: This story is part of an investigative series about the criminal case against ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela. At first glance, the story of Michelle Barrientes Vela had all the trappings of a political fairy tale. Once an unpaid, reserve deputy at Bexar County Constable’s Office Precinct 2, Barrientes Vela became the elected Constable after winning the 2016 election. Personnel problems morphed into claims of false arrests, perjury, tampering with evidence, and other alleged crimes for which Barrientes Vela now awaits trial. The special report airs on KSAT 12 on Thursday, March 25 at 9 p.m.READ MORE ON THE DOWNFALL PAGE:A timeline of Michelle Barrientes Vela’s controversial time in officeThe most unusual acts of Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela during her troubled tenureAdBarrientes Vela, former captain plan aggressive defense at abuse of office trialFour people tied up in Michelle Barrientes Vela’s scandals18 months after Barrientes Vela’s removal, new constable still helping traumatized deputies10 controversies surrounding embattled Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela

SAN ANTONIO – 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 motion, granted by Judge Ron Rangel, will also apply to Barrientes Vela’s co-defendant, former Precinct 2 Capt. Barrientes Vela faces one felony count of aggravated perjury, two felony counts of tampering with evidence and three misdemeanor counts of official oppression, related to her nearly three-year tenure as constable. Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Captain Marc Garcia. A spokeswoman for Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales declined to comment.

To date, the Defenders have done more than 50 stories detailing failures and possible lawbreaking during Barrientes Vela’s time in office. It was the third time in two years that McManus gave information on fatal shootings by SAPD officers that was later refuted. The suspect SAPD officers were actually looking for, Darren Smith Jr., has never been charged for the domestic violence incident. This June 2020 investigation took a look at a little-known practice of cities charging drivers involved in accidents fees for the response by fire departments. Following this Defenders investigation, the deputies involved in the incident were placed on administrative duty.

SAN ANTONIO – An unlikely alliance between the chair of the Bexar County Republican Party and an indicted former constable has been formed to protest the results of the 2020 primary one week ago. Cynthia Brehm is now in a runoff to reclaim her position as the local GOP chair, and Michelle Barrientes Vela lost her race for Bexar County sheriff. However, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said any plans to overturn the election are between Brehm and the state Republican party. I stand behind this election.”Texas March 2020 Primary Election ResultsApparently so do Bexar County commissioners, after listening to Callanen’s explanation of the what occurred. She said once both political parties canvass the results Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, the official results will be released.

Unlikely alliance distrusts local 2020 primary resultsPublished: March 10, 2020, 6:45 pmAn unlikely alliance between the chair of the Bexar County Republican Party and an indicted former constable has been formed to protest the results of the 2020 primary one week ago.

SAN ANTONIO – Election results will begin to populate on this page when early voting results are released at 7 p.m. (CST) on March 3 and we’ll have an election night livestream on KSAT.com. You can find additional election results by scrolling to the bottom of this page. For more election coverage, go to our Vote 2020 page or sign up for our free election newsletter.

SAN ANTONIO – Election results will begin to populate on this page when early voting results are released at 7 p.m. (CST) on March 3 and we’ll have an election night livestream on KSAT.com. You can find additional election results by scrolling to the bottom of this page. For more election coverage, go to our Vote 2020 page or sign up for our free election newsletter.

Barrientes Vela makes first court appearance since being indicted on felony chargesPublished: February 26, 2020, 5:21 pmFormer Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela on Wednesday morning made her first court appearance since her arrest last month on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.

SAN ANTONIO – Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela on Wednesday morning made her first court appearance since her arrest last month on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. Surrounded by family members and a group of supporters, Barrientes Vela was in and out of court in under an hour. Supporters at one point yelled “Collier coward,”and tried to block a KSAT 12 photographer from recording footage of Barrientes Vela outside court. Barrientes Vela faces one felony count of aggravated perjury, two felony counts of tampering with evidence and three misdemeanor counts of official oppression. Prosecutors accuse Barrientes Vela of lying in her sworn statements about Deputy Leonicio Moreno, who had filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against her.

SAN ANTONIO – Michelle Barrientes Vela’s former captain was fired from the Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office Wednesday, weeks after he was indicted along with the former constable on felony and misdemeanor charges. Marc Garcia was terminated following a 10-day administrative leave, a Precinct 2 spokesman said. WATCH: Ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela faces judge after turning self in on felony chargesGarcia faces a felony charge of aggravated perjury and three misdemeanor charges of official oppression. A Defenders investigation in June showed that Precinct 2 deputies delayed booking Moreno for nearly a half-hour, until members of the media were in place. Former Bexar County Precinct 2 constable Michelle Barrientes VelaHe and Barrientes Vela are scheduled to make a court appearance Feb. 26.

SAN ANTONIO – The road to November begins for candidates hoping to represent their political party with the primary election. Early voting for Texas’ primary election begins on Feb. 18, and Election Day is slated for Super Tuesday, March 3. AdBottom line: It seems likely that the crowded Republican primary will head to a runoff after March 3. AdFor Hurd’s part, he’s endorsed Republican candidate Tony Gonzalez, a San Antonio native and military veteran whose politics appear to align largely with Hurd’s. AdBottom line: It will be interesting to see which party gets stronger turnout in the primary election, but most of the action for CD-21 will come during the general election.

Defenders Debrief: What's next for Michelle Barrientes VelaPublished: January 31, 2020, 9:54 amThe Defenders' Dillon Collier sits down with GMSA @ 9 to discuss what's next for Michelle Barrientes Vela.

SAN ANTONIO – Democratic candidates for Bexar County sheriff have 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. 2 Constable Barrientes VelaA smiling Barrientes Vela walked in front of KSAT cameras while she was escorted by officers to go before a judge. READ MORE: Ex-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela faces judge after turning self in on felony chargesKSAT reached out to the Democratic candidates running against Barrientes Vela in the race for sheriff. Barrientes Vela told reporters Thursday that she is going forward in the race for sheriff. We are not going to be bought by special interest people,” Barrientes Vela said.

2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, now a candidate for sheriff, has been indicted on three felony charges. 2 Constable Barrientes VelaVela has been under investigation by state and federal authorities since May and her constable office and home were raided in September. Prosecutors accuse Barrientes Vela of lying in her sworn statements about Deputy Leonicio Moreno, who had filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against her. Barrientes Vela had Moreno arrested on suspicion of aggravated perjury, but the charges were quickly rejected by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. Since being removed from office by county officials in October, Vela has campaigned as a Democrat for Bexar County Sheriff.

Michelle Barrientes Vela faces a judge hours after she's indicted by a Bexar County Jury. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241.

Michelle Barrientes Vela surrenders to authorities following indictmentPublished: January 23, 2020, 2:35 pmFormer Pct. 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, now a candidate for sheriff, has been indicted on three felony charges, according to two county sources.

SAN ANTONIO – Campaign finance records released Wednesday show that two front-runners have emerged in the race for Bexar County Sheriff. Challenger Willie Ng, a Republican, raised more than $152,000 from the start of July through the end of December. Campaign finance figures for Democrat Pete Lozano were not available on the Bexar County Elections Department website as of Thursday morning. Bexar County has had a Democratic sheriff for the last three decades, except for the four-year tenure of Republican Susan Pamerleau, who won by 4 percentage points in 2012. Republicans Donald Trump and Ted Cruz lost Bexar County by about 13 percentage points in 2016 and 20 percentage points in 2018, respectively.

SAN ANTONIO – Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela raised $1,600 in political contributions and loaned herself more than $60,000, according to a campaign finance report made public Wednesday. According to the report, Barrientes Vela received six individual contributions totaling $1,630. With relatively few individual contributions, Barrientes Vela loaned her campaign $40,000 and her husband, Carlos Vela, loaned the campaign $21,675, for a total of $61,675 in campaign loans, according to the report. Campaign records show Barrientes Vela also spent $6,000 on advertising with Sign Busters, a San Antonio company that helps distribute and put up campaign signs and was tied up in one of the ex-constable’s controversies last year. Her attorney told KSAT at the time the people hanging the signs worked for Sign Busters and not her campaign.

SAN ANTONIO – Interim Precinct 2 Constable Leticia Vazquez officially announced her candidacy for the position Monday, two months after telling county commissioners she had no plans to seek a full term. Vazquez was appointed by commissioners Oct. 2 after beating out close to 30 applicants to fulfill the final 15 months of Michelle Barrientes Vela’s term. Michelle Barrientes Vela (KSAT)Barrientes Vela and several members of her administration remain under criminal investigation for charges ranging from official oppression to tampering with evidence. Crowded fieldVazquez joins an extremely crowded field in the 2020 race for Precinct 2 constable. Barrientes Vela’s campaign did not ask permission to hang the sign on the fence overnight, according to sources.

Barrientes Vela remains under criminal investigation for a long list of incidents that took place during her nearly three years in office. The store manager told deputies she forced the man to leave the shop after recognizing him as previously stealing shoes and deodorant. The man left the location but then contacted Barrientes Vela, the report states. “I mean I am pretty sure, I recognized his face when he walked in,” the manager told deputies, according to the report. The Family Dollar incident is not the first time Barrientes Vela has been accused of using agency resources to aid members of her immediate family.

AdRELATED: 10 controversies surrounding embattled Precinct 2 Constable Barrientes VelaNamed in the warrant as suspects are Barrientes Vela, her former Chief Deputy Anthony Castillo, former Capt. Castillo was fired by Barrientes Vela hours before she was removed from office earlier this month. Weeks after filing suit against Barrientes Vela for the Galveston hot tub incident, Moreno filed to run against her in the 2020 election. Reyes said when he arrived at the park, Barrientes Vela and her family were occupying the pavilion he rented. Barrientes Vela and Castillo then returned and told Reyes he must pay $500 for security, according to the warrant.

KSAT reached an attorney for Barrientes Vela by phone on Tuesday, but he said he would provide a comment later. The search warrant outlines an incident at Rodriguez Park on Easter Sunday in which a man reported being "harassed" by Barrientes Vela during a party with his family. The man had rented a pavilion from the city, but Barrientes Vela was at the pavilion with her family when he arrived. Ultimately, he paid $300 "because he felt intimidated by (Barrientes Vela) and (Castillo)," the search warrant states. Her replacement took over this month and Barrientes Vela has taken the first official step to launch her sheriff campaign for 2020.

SAN ANTONIO – A week after being fired as chief deputy of the Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office, Anthony Castillo has filed the necessary paperwork to run for Precinct 2 constable in next year’s election. AdGarcia was demoted to the rank of deputy and immediately placed on leave last week by Barrientes Vela's replacement, Constable Leticia Vazquez, pending the outcome of an investigation. Barrientes Vela said she gave Castillo a "verbal write-up" for the incident. Castillo is the 10th candidate to file paperwork to run for Precinct 2 constable. Barrientes Vela was removed from office last week after a district judge dismissed her lawsuit attempting to block county officials from appointing her replacement.

SAN ANTONIO – Former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela has appointed a campaign treasurer and entered the race to become Bexar County Sheriff, according to paperwork filed with the county elections department. Barrientes Vela, who was formerly removed as constable last week, becomes the seventh candidate to file the necessary paperwork to run. Barrientes Vela triggered the state's resign-to-run law Sept. 23, when she told a KSAT 12 reporter that she planned to run for sheriff in 2020. CLICK HERE: Sources: Barrientes Vela ordered deputies to search for vehicle stolen from husband's car lotBarrientes Vela has appointed her husband, Carlos Vela, as her treasurer. A Defenders investigation last week revealed that Barrientes Vela used agency resources to search for a luxury sport utility vehicle stolen from her husband’s car lot late last year.

SAN ANTONIO – While in office, former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela ordered deputies from her agency to search for a luxury sport utility vehicle stolen from her husband’s used car lot, according to text messages and multiple sources within her now former agency. However, to date, Barrientes Vela has refused to hand over a copy of it. The used car lot and the street where the SUV was located are both outside the former constable's precinct, according to a Bexar County precinct map. A district court judge on Wednesday tossed out a lawsuit filed by Barrientes Vela that attempted to block the appointment of her replacement. Barrientes Vela did not respond to repeated requests to be interviewed for this story.

SAN ANTONIO – Less than a day after Michelle Barrientes Vela agreed to vacate her position as Bexar County Precinct 2 constable, a major shake-up has taken place within her former administration. County officials confirmed Thursday that Chief Deputy Anthony Castillo was terminated by Barrientes Vela at 5 p.m. Wednesday, just minutes after she re-announced her intentions to run for Bexar County sheriff in 2020. Precinct 2 Captain Marc Garcia was demoted to deputy constable and placed on leave October 10. Barrientes Vela, a first-term constable, resigned her seat after telling a KSAT 12 reporter on Sept. 23 that she would run for sheriff in 2020. RELATED: 10 controversies surrounding embattled Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County Commissioners on Wednesday named the successor for embattled Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela. Commissioners selected Leticia Vasquez, a 25-year veteran of the Bexar County Sheriff's Office among five candidates. Barrientes Vela declined to comment on the appointment, according to her attorney Les Sachanowicz. AdRELATED: 10 controversies surrounding embattled Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes VelaA Bexar County visiting judge on Monday denied Barrientes Vela's request to stop commissioners from interviewing and naming her successor. In a statement released over the weekend, an attorney representing Barrientes Vela called the comment "an excited utterance rather than a formal political declaration to seek the sheriff's seat in 2020."