Grace Saenz-Lopez
Encyclopedia
Grace Saenz-Lopez is a former mayor
of the city of Alice, Texas
.
Saenz-Lopez was indicted on January 18, 2008 on two felony counts of tampering with evidence and concealing evidence following the theft of a dog belonging to vacationing neighbors. During their absence she called the neighbors and claimed that the dog had died. The dog, a Shih Tzu
named Puddles but called "Panchito" by the mayor, was later spotted at her sister's home. She faced a criminal complaint and a civil lawsuit filed by the neighbors.
City council members held a vote of no confidence and recall petition affidavits were gathered. On February 1, before a date for such an election could be set, Saenz-Lopez resigned from office.
The story received nationwide attention due in part to the mayor's important public status in Alice community and her bizarre rationale for the theft and deception, claiming the dog was mistreated by its owners and that she did it in the dog's best interest. Reporting by KZTV
news in Corpus Christi, Texas
and other local news outlets was quickly picked up by national bureaus. The dog Puddles was returned to its owners by court order in April.
On July 16, 2008 it was reported that Saenz-Lopez had struck a plea agreement
with prosecutors. In exchange for pleading no contest
to a misdemeanor
charge of filing a false report, all other charges, including two felonies
, were dropped. The former mayor was ordered to pay a fine, do community service, and has been placed on two years probation
.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the city of Alice, Texas
Alice, Texas
At the 2000 census, there were 19,010 people, 6,400 households and 4,915 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,597.4 per square mile . There were 6,998 housing units at an average density of 588.0 per square mile...
.
Saenz-Lopez was indicted on January 18, 2008 on two felony counts of tampering with evidence and concealing evidence following the theft of a dog belonging to vacationing neighbors. During their absence she called the neighbors and claimed that the dog had died. The dog, a Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a breed of dog weighing with long silky hair. The breed originated in China and is among the earliest breeds. Shih Tzu were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969...
named Puddles but called "Panchito" by the mayor, was later spotted at her sister's home. She faced a criminal complaint and a civil lawsuit filed by the neighbors.
City council members held a vote of no confidence and recall petition affidavits were gathered. On February 1, before a date for such an election could be set, Saenz-Lopez resigned from office.
The story received nationwide attention due in part to the mayor's important public status in Alice community and her bizarre rationale for the theft and deception, claiming the dog was mistreated by its owners and that she did it in the dog's best interest. Reporting by KZTV
KZTV
KZTV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Corpus Christi area of South Texas. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 10 from a transmitter between Petronila and Robstown...
news in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
and other local news outlets was quickly picked up by national bureaus. The dog Puddles was returned to its owners by court order in April.
On July 16, 2008 it was reported that Saenz-Lopez had struck a plea agreement
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
with prosecutors. In exchange for pleading no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
to a misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
charge of filing a false report, all other charges, including two felonies
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
, were dropped. The former mayor was ordered to pay a fine, do community service, and has been placed on two years probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
.