Barrientes Vela appeal moved back to Bexar County as court works through transcript issues

SAN ANTONIO – Ex-constable Michelle Barrientes Vela’s appeal of her criminal convictions has been moved back to Bexar County quickly whilst court newshounds strive to cope with issues with the written transcript of the case.

The one-time Precinct 2 constable, who left place of job in 2019 months earlier than being indicted in a wide-sweeping public corruption case, in short gave the impression in 226th Court Monday morning whilst Judge Velia Meza mentioned the placement with the prosecution, Barrientes Vela’s appeal legal professional and court newshounds.

Barrientes Vela’s appeal, which is most probably to be officially filed someday subsequent yr, used to be moved from the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio to the Eighth Court of Appeals in El Paso as a part of a docket reallocation.

The Eighth COA this summer time notified Meza that the written report of the case used to be now not in compliance with Texas regulations on appeals and court newshounds’ data.

Meza mentioned she has set a Friday closing date to reply to the appeal’s court order to produce a grasp transcript of the case.

Barrientes Vela used to be indicted through a grand jury in January 2020 on fees starting from tampering with data to professional oppression and irritated perjury.

The authentic pass judgement on assigned to her case, Judge Ron Rangel, recused himself in 2021 to steer clear of any look of conflicts.

Barrientes Vela had prior to now posted an image of her and Rangel at a human trafficking convention.

Barrientes Vela’s case additionally had a large number of hearings earlier than and after her trial, together with a failed movement to have District Attorney Joe Gonzales disqualified from prosecuting it and contempt of court hearings for Texas Ranger Bradley Freeman.

Multiple court newshounds have been assigned to the hearings, making it harder to bring together a grasp transcript, court officers mentioned Monday.

Barrientes Vela used to be convicted of 2 criminal counts of criminal tampering with data remaining September, after a high-profile trial that focused on her falsifying safety cost logs at a West Side park.

She used to be sentenced in January to 5 years probation, 90 days in prison and 600 hours of group carrier.

Barrientes Vela does now not have to serve her 90-day sentence whilst she appeals her conviction.

Meza in early March denied Barrientes Vela’s request for a brand new trial.

Barrientes Vela stays on group supervision through early January 2028, and to date, has abided through the stipulations of her probation, court data display.