Former Alpine city financial director Ricky Chavez has been arrested and charged with theft by a public servant and tampering with government funds. Both are third degree felonies.
In a statement released by the 83rd District Attorney office, this involved "money to attend Sul Ross State University; purchase of computers for his family and purchase of car parts."
Chavez was suspended with pay in April after an investigation into the allegations of document shredding had been referred to the Texas Rangers. A city audit showed "gross incompetence" and sparked a series of events that including the firing of the city manager as well as the ongoing campaign to recall the mayor.
The Big Bend Gazette referenced last month's Talk at Ten with Interim City Manager Chuck Harrington and Alpine Mayor Avinash Rangra where publisher John Waters asked Harrington about the unproven Sul Ross attendance. Harrington responsed “Some of it I cant talk about because there is an ongoing investigation by Texas Rangers.”
The statement from the 83rd District Attorney's office also said that Chavez confessed to some of the offenses. A grand jury will be impaneled in Brewster County early July. However, this is an ongoing investigation.