DA-elect not going to Willacy — for now

RAYMONDVILLE - Willacy County District Attorney-elect Bernard Ammerman said Tuesday that a tight schedule as Cameron County's assistant district attorney forced him to decline a judge's appointment as special prosecutor in Willacy County's court.

State District Judge Migdalia Lopez assigned Ammerman to serve as special prosecutor after District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra recused himself from trying three felony cases, District Clerk Gilbert Lozano said.

Ammerman, a Cameron County assistant district attorney who won an April primary to replace Guerra on Jan. 1, turned down Lopez's appointment on May 30, a day after she assigned him, Deputy Clerk Diana Castillo said.

Lopez assigned Brownsville attorney Alex Dominguez to replace Ammerman as special prosecutor in the cases, Castillo said.

Guerra has said he recused himself from trying the cases, arguing that he faces three felony indictments that could prejudice jurors against him.

Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos didn't allow him to take the assignment amid a busy schedule, Ammerman said.

"I don't have the permission from my boss," Ammerman said.

Ammerman said he serves as the 357th court's sole assistant district attorney after fellow prosecutor Maria DeFord was assigned the case of Melissa Elizabeth Lucio, charged with capital murder in the Feb. 17, 2007, death of her 2-year-old daughter.

Trying Willacy County's two felony marijuana cases and an alleged home invasion case would have taken him away from his Cameron County job for about five weeks, Ammerman said.

"If I left, nobody would run this court," Ammerman said. "I get paid by Cameron County for the people of Cameron County."

Villalobos could not be reached for comment.

In March 2007, a grand jury handed down three felony indictments against Guerra, charging him with theft, attempted theft and tampering with government records, perjury and abuse of official capacity.