Court has recessed for the day and will not reconvene until Sept. 12.
A Bexar County jury on Thursday found former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela guilty on two felony counts of tampering with records.
The jury deliberated for four hours before reaching its decision in the nearly two-week long public corruption trial.
Barrientes Vela is eligible for probation. She could face a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison. Barrientes Vela requested for Judge Velia Meza to decide her sentence. Court will reconvene on Sept. 12 to begin the sentencing phase. Until then, Barrientes Vela will be allowed to remain free.
Barrientes Vela still faces multiple counts of official oppression in a separate case that has not yet been set for trial.
You can catch up on the previous days of testimony below:
If you missed what happened on Day 7 of the trial click here.
If you missed what happened on Day 6 of the trial click here.
If you missed what happened on Day 5 of the trial click here.
If you missed what happened on Day 4 of the trial click here.
If you missed what happened on Day 3 of the trial click here.
If you missed what happened on Day 2 of the trial click here.
If you missed what happened on Day 1 of the trial click here.
Barrientes Vela, who stepped down in late 2019 after triggering the state’s resign-to-run law, faces two felony counts of tampering with evidence.
The charges were included in a wide sweeping January 2020 indictment of her and her former captain, Marc D. Garcia, covering her tumultuous 33 months in office.
The indictment, among other allegations regarding her time in office, accuses Barrientes Vela of presenting Rodriguez Park security cash logs that she knew were false.
Prosecutors last year dismissed the most serious charge against Barrientes Vela, aggravated perjury, leaving her to face the tampering charges as well as multiple counts of official oppression.
If Barrientes Vela is convicted on either tampering charge, prosecutors will likely ask 226th District Court Judge Velia Meza to consider the official oppression counts during sentencing, sources familiar with the case have told KSAT Investigates.
You can view the entire trial live in the video player above.
Read background on the case here.