CHARITY THEFT TRIAL UNDERWAY FOR HARRIS COUTNY PCT. 6 CONSTABLE VICTOR TREVINO

HOUSTON – Harris County Precinct 6 Constable Victor Trevino is accused of stealing money from his own charity.

Trevino was indicted two years ago and the trial against him got underway Friday morning.

Trevino is accused of improperly using charity money from 2008 to 2011.

Trevino created the charity Constables Athletic Recreational and Education Events Incorporated more than two decades ago.

The initial investigation found that a captain at Precinct 6 signed blank checks from the charity's bank account. Court documents allege the signature on those checks looked like it had been forged.

On Thursday, Trevino claimed did nothing wrong.

"To be accountable and I've always taken that responsibility. Some people confused that by thinking that means there was some criminal conduct involved. By no mean there was never no criminal conduct involved," Trevino said. "It was just a matter of dealing with management issues that we have dealt with and will continue to do so."

Prosecutors had offered Trevino a plea deal but he declined.

HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE VICTOR TREVINO PLEADS GUILTY TO FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT

HOUSTON, TX - After 39 years in law enforcement, Harris County Precinct 6 Constable, Victor Trevino's career ended Monday in a courtroom with a guilty plea.

"The state is pleased that Mr. Trevino has finally taken responsibility for the crime that was committed,"says Harris County Assistant District Attorney, Bill Moore.

By pleading guilty to misapplication of fiduciary property, Trevino admitted he diverted money from his charity for personal use. Then he turned in his resignation.

The plea came one day after his trial began.

Trevino's defense attorney, Chip Lewis says, "the constable made the decision to put this matter behind him and move forward with the remaining chapters of his life. Those chapters will continue to include his support for all of his family, for the constituents and the members of the community that have always supported him."

Trevino spent the past 26 years as the elected Harris County Precinct 6 Constable.

Days earlier, prosecutors offered Trevino a chance to plea guilty to a misdemeanor, but he said no way, and claimed he was clear of any wrongdoing.

Then a change of heart. Trevino's guilty plea is now a felony, which could cost him 10 years in prison.

A judge will decide his sentence later this month.

The consequences that already cost him a career, will be assessed in dollars.

EX-PRECINCT 6 'LIAISON' ARRESTED BY DEA AGENTS

HOUSTON -- SkyEye HD was overhead as DEA agents made a bust in an exclusive Houston neighborhood. It's a developing story with connections to the constable controversy we've been exposing. We're focusing not on the bust itself, but on the guy who agents busted. Wait until you see what the DEA found when they got inside his house.

For a constable already under criminal investigation, this can't be good news -- the DEA on Tuesday morning busting a house in the pricey Rice Village area, Precinct 6 constables there to help.

See the guy in the back of the patrol car? He's Richard Romero. He was arrested on a warrant out of Atlanta. The feds say they brought in the dogs on a Harris County search warrant.

We don't know what the DEA found, if anything, in the house but we do know they found a police ID from Victor Trevino's office.

No, Romero's not a deputy, but while wearing handcuffs, he confirmed he was a "community liaison for Precinct 6." What exactly does that mean? He told us he rides along, donates money. He called himself a Precinct 6 lackey and he does donate.

Back in May, he wrote a check for $4,000 to the charity Constable Trevino founded called CARE. We've been investigating where the CARE money went for months.

"That has nothing to do with it, I help him raise funds," Romero told us.

Romero told us months ago he gave Precinct 6 mountain bikes to replace cars they were losing in the budget cuts.

The donation was well known at Precinct 6. Former clerk Anna Nunez has detailed alleged wrongdoing in Precinct 6.

"The $4,000 check was made out payable to CARE, deposited into CARE's account, but the bikes were never purchased," Nunez said.

But when we talked to Trevino in July, he claimed he didn't know the donation was for bikes.

If you want to give a donation to CARE, you give it because you believe in the charity and what it's about, not with any stipulation," he said.

What may be most troubling now is what else the constable is now claiming he didn't know about Romero.

"Neither Constable Trevino nor any of these arresting deputies were aware Mr. Romero was a community liaison. Upon notification, the constable terminated Mr. Romero's status and secured his credentials," Trevino's attorney, Chip Lewis, told us.

HOUSTON -- SkyEye HD was overhead as DEA agents made a bust in an exclusive Houston neighborhood. It's a developing story with connections to the constable controversy we've been exposing. We're focusing not on the bust itself, but on the guy who agents busted. Wait until you see what the DEA found when they got inside his house.

For a constable already under criminal investigation, this can't be good news -- the DEA on Tuesday morning busting a house in the pricey Rice Village area, Precinct 6 constables there to help.

See the guy in the back of the patrol car? He's Richard Romero. He was arrested on a warrant out of Atlanta. The feds say they brought in the dogs on a Harris County search warrant.

We don't know what the DEA found, if anything, in the house but we do know they found a police ID from Victor Trevino's office.

No, Romero's not a deputy, but while wearing handcuffs, he confirmed he was a "community liaison for Precinct 6." What exactly do Makes you wonder who else has Precinct 6 credentials the constable claims he doesn't know about.

This arrest is shining light on the practice of some constable's offices to give out police IDs to people who aren't real deputies.