Jury in trial for Harris County Constable Victor Trevino to be chosen

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A jury is scheduled to be chosen Thursday in the trial of Victor Trevino, the Harris County constable accused of four separate crimes, including one that he took money for personal use from a charity he founded.

This trial comes in the wake of a series of investigative reports by ABC-13.

Trevino, who has been the constable in Houston's East End for nearly 30 years, has said long said the allegations have no merit and has blaming shoddy bookkeeping.

There was little bluster from Trevino on Wednesday, though, when approached by ABC-13.

"I am also grateful for a great family who's supported me through all this," he said. "For that I am blessed."

When asked if he was concerned about ending his career if found guilty, Trevino's only answer was a long silence.

And there is a twist in the trial: Trevino's lawyer Chip Lewis filed a motion Wednesday letting the judge know about a legal conflict that Lewis might have in representing the constable.

It's unclear late Wednesday what that conflict might be.

Regardless, the reporting of ABC-13 is likely to be front-and-center at the trial.

The questions concerning Trevino were raised in 2011 in an investigation by then ABC-13 Undercover reporter Wayne Dolcefino.

"This investigation started with a simple cryptic note saying, 'Please help us,'" Dolcefino said. "The rest is history."

Precinct 6 deputies told ABC-13 that they felt pressure to donate money to the constable's campaign and his charity. The investigation raised questions about Trevino's management of both. Others accused Trevino of allowing his Precinct 6 deputies to illegally profit from delivering eviction notices.

Dolcefino, who now runs a media consulting firm, said he has been subpoenaed to testify at the trial.

If convicted, Trevino faces 10 years in prison.

Even though the series of ABC-13 stories ran in 2011 and Trevino was indicted in November 2012, he remained popular in the East End.

He won the Democratic primary in May 2012 and handily won re-election that November.