HOUSTON – Former Harris County Precinct 6 Constable Victor Trevino was back in court, where was sentenced to 10 years probation after pleading guilty earlier this month to stealing money from his own charity.
For about an hour and a half, a fraud investigator from the Harris County District Attorney's Office testified that Trevino used more than $124,000 intended for his charity, for his personal use.
The investigator said Trevino repeatedly cashed checks from his charity and deposited the money into his personal bank account and took gambling trips not long after he cashed the checks from his charity.
The longtime constable pleaded guilty earlier this month to misappropriation of funds. He was forced to immediately resign as constable and to surrender his peace officer's license.
He served as a police officer, then constable for more than 30 years.
Trevino had been facing up to 10 years in prison, but a judge Monday gave him 10 years probation and a $1,000 fine.
The judge will also require Trevino to chose an approved charity to anonymously repay the money he took from the charity he started. And he is ordered to do 150 hours of community service.