Complaints target 2 Willacy JPs

RAYMONDVILLE - A Lyford man said he's sent complaints to a state office, accusing Justices of the Peace George Solis and Rudy Cantu of failing to follow state bookkeeping laws.

W.R. Young said he mailed complaints May 3 to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, accusing Solis and Cantu of failing to deposit money into the county treasurer's account, failing to account for money and late filing of monthly reports.

Seana Willing, the commission's executive director, said a confidentiality policy prohibited her from confirming or denying whether the complaints were filed.

Cantu could not be reached for comment, but Solis said the complaints were based on a "bookkeeping issue that we need to work on."

"There's no criminal intent here," Solis said.

State law requires that Solis and Cantu deposit money from fees in the county treasurer's account, Young stated in copies of complaints.Treasurer Ruben Cavazos confirmed that Solis and Cantu deposited money in their office bank account instead of in the treasurer's account.

At the end of the month, Cavazos withdraws the money from the bank account and deposits it into the treasurer's account, Cavazos said.

Neither Solis nor Cantu are authorized to withdraw money from the bank account, Cavazos said.

Solis said he deposited money in an office bank account because his part-time secretary didn't have time to carry money to the treasurer's office across the street. His secretary works four hours a day in an office where she processes about 200 tickets a week, Solis said.

"We're doing as much as we can," Solis said. "It's a bookkeeping nightmare."

In copies of complaints, Young accuses Solis of failing to account for $500.

Solis said it is likely that a clerk who worked for both his office and Justice of the Peace Juan Silva's office deposited the money into Silva's account.

Young also accused Solis and Cantu of late filing of monthly reports.

But Solis said his office was two days late this month. When he took over as judge two years ago, his office was seven months behind, he said.

Young also accused Solis of bonding a Texas Workforce Commission employee who had not been hired by the county. Bonding would allow the person to work in Solis' office.

Solis said county commissioners on Monday will determine whether he can assign the person to help in his office.

Young also accused Solis of using county employees to work on county time for the American Legion post where Solis serves as commander.

Solis strongly denied the accusation.

"That is not true," Solis said.

Solis said he welcomed a state investigation.

"We need to give the commission time to do their job," Solis said. "They have investigators."