Texan judge uses money from traffic fines to pay his card bills

***naisho*** · 06-29-2010, 01:36 AM

The Associated Press: Texas judge accused of stealing traffic fine money

Texas judge accused of using money collected from traffic fines to pay his credit card bills

Quote:

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN (AP) – Jun 17, 2010

McALLEN, Texas — A south Texas municipal judge was arrested Thursday and accused of using traffic fines paid by those who appeared before him to pay his personal credit card.

La Joya Municipal Court Judge Joe Henry Garza, 55, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon on the third-degree felony charge of theft by a public servant. He was in the process of being released on $10,000 bond later Thursday.

"We believe the gentleman is not guilty," said Richard Alamia, Garza's attorney. "He's not the receiver of the money that comes into the municipality."

An internal city audit earlier this year found discrepancies in fines collected by Garza's court, and the case was turned over to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, said La Joya city administrator Mike Alaniz.

"I have the utmost respect for Judge Garza," Alaniz said. "It's just unfortunate this was happening."

The sheriff's public integrity unit found three instances in which people who paid traffic fines with money orders in Garza's court had their money later used to pay Garza's personal credit card, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Alamia, who said he had not seen the affidavit, said it must have been some sort of mistake and if money was missing it was likely someone else in the office.

Sheriff's investigators got involved after the audit found $6,500 was missing. La Joya is about 15 miles west of McAllen.

Three people told investigators they bought money orders to pay traffic fines in Garza's court. Their money order stubs allowed investigators to trace their use and find that Garza used at least $2,200 in money orders to pay his credit card, according to the affidavit.

Sheriff Lupe Trevino said most of cases involved Mexican nationals without driver's licenses. Garza would assess a fine and tell them to pay it in cash or with a money order.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

jillio · 06-29-2010, 10:15 AM

Maximum sentence allowable for this white collar crook.

**deafskeptic** · 06-29-2010, 10:19 AM

Gotta love people who would misuse money like this.

rolling7 · 06-30-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Maximum sentence allowable for this white collar crook.

Back up!!!!!! Back way, way up!!!!! Did you ever read this guys' name?????

**Banjo** · 06-30-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolling7

Back up!!!!!! Back way, way up!!!!! Did you ever read this guys' name?????

Texas judge accused of stealing traffic fine money

There's a picture of him.

Tousi · 06-30-2010, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolling7

Back up!!!!!! Back way, way up!!!!! Did you ever read this guys' name?????

What are you getting at with this question?

**Banjo** · 06-30-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

What are you getting at with this question?

I think he's implying that he's not white because of his last name. It's Spanish.

**Daredevel7** · 06-30-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

What are you getting at with this question?

I think he equates white collar = white people? Dunno!

**Beowulf** · 06-30-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

What are you getting at with this question?

*snickering*

**Banjo** · 06-30-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daredevel7

I think he equates white collar = white people? Dunno!

That was my thought too as well. *shrugs*

netrox · 06-30-2010, 01:19 PM

I don't think rolling7 knows what white collar means. "White collar" means a salaried professional. Nothing to do with race.

"Blue collar" means people who do labor work.

**TXgolfer** · 06-30-2010, 10:09 PM

Happens alot......usually in JP courts though. In most JP courts the fines are made payable to the JP. I have made out many checks to a JP . Those never showed up on my record either.

jillio · 07-01-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

I think he's implying that he's not white because of his last name. It's Spanish.

LOL...I wasn't referring to his race. That was a reference to his professional status.

**Banjo** · 07-01-2010, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

LOL...I wasn't referring to his race. That was a reference to his professional status.

I know.

jillio · 07-04-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

I know.

I'm sure you did. People seem to be terribly quick to jump out of misunderstanding.

06-29-2010, 10:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
deafskeptic Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 14,512	Gotta love people who would misuse money like this. __________________ Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007. Activated on May 9th. Upgraded to Opus 2 9/10/2010 Think Pink. FREE JILLIO!

06-30-2010, 10:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
TXgolfer Dream Weaver Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Everywhere Posts: 17,634	Happens alot......usually in JP courts though. In most JP courts the fines are made payable to the JP. I have made out many checks to a JP . Those never showed up on my record either. __________________ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:21 Sometimes at night, I see their faces. I feel the traces they've left on my soul

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06-29-2010, 10:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
jillio Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 60,296	Maximum sentence allowable for this white collar crook.

06-30-2010, 01:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
netrox Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,780	I don't think rolling7 knows what white collar means. "White collar" means a salaried professional. Nothing to do with race. "Blue collar" means people who do labor work.