BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - A South Texas mayor will serve a year of probation to resolve charges of a snow cone stand allegedly operating on his property in violation of city rules.
San Benito Mayor Joe Hernandez on Wednesday agreed to join a pretrial diversion program for dismissal of a felony charge of tampering with evidence. He wasn't required to enter a plea but must pay the $500 program fee.
The Valley Morning Star reports Hernandez still faces a misdemeanor charge of abuse of official capacity if he fails to complete probation.
A grand jury in October indicted Hernandez on charges he put an ordinance revision on a 2011 city council agenda that would benefit him. He also allegedly tried to obscure evidence of the snow cone stand illegally operating on his property.
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Information from: Valley Morning Star
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