I Got Friends in Low Places

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2009-05-25T05:43:00.001-07:00

Celis sentenced to 10 years probation, no jail time

Judge Bañales lessens terms of earlier ruling of former law firm operator; also removes house arrest

By Denise Malan (Contact)
Originally published 01:20 p.m., May 18, 2009
Updated 01:20 p.m., May 18, 2009

Celis will not serve jail time. Judge Manuel Bañales said it isn’t warranted.

CORPUS CHRISTI — District Judge Manuel Bañales sentenced former law firm operator Mauricio Celis to 10 years probation with no jail time and took him off house arrest at a hearing Monday morning.

Bañales’ decision lessened the terms set in an earlier ruling. In March, visiting Judge Mark Luitjen outlined a sentence for Celis of 10 years probation with one year in jail and restitution, expected to be more than $1 million, as conditions of probation. Bañales removed Luitjen from the case Friday. Luitjen’s sentencing order hadn’t been signed, so the sentence was never official.

Bañales said jail time would not honor the jury’s sentence and isn’t warranted in this case because it was a non-violent offense. A jury convicted Celis in February and recommended probation on 14 of 22 counts of falsely holding himself out as a lawyer, a third-degree felony.

“If the jail were not so crowded, it may be appropriate to put this defendant in jail for a certain amount of time, but we’re not there, we don’t have that luxury,” Bañales said.

The sentence will not go into effect until Celis exhausts his appeals.

District Attorney Carlos Valdez had argued that Celis has not accepted the seriousness of the crime, calling him the “biggest con artist in the history of Nueces County.” Prosecutors have said Celis made more than $10 million impersonating a lawyer.

Defense attorney Tony Canales said his client does understand the seriousness and no one has testified that they didn’t receive proper services.

Bañales also changed the terms of restitution. The amount depends on injured parties coming forward and making their case for restitution. If no claims are filed within 90 days, Celis would pay no restitution.

Celis has filed notice that he will appeal the conviction, though he can’t formally appeal until the sentencing order is signed. He also is asking for a new trial, saying Luitjen was biased against him.

Luitjen had set appeal bond at $700,000 and ordered Celis to wear an electronic monitor and be placed under house arrest pending appeal. Bañales lowered the appeal bond to $100,000, though Celis had already posted the higher bond, and removed house arrest.

In a hearing Friday, Bañales ruled that Luitjen showed at least the appearance of bias and removed him from the case. Bañales, the presiding judge over this administrative region, had appointed Luitjen in 2007 to oversee Celis’ case. Bañales will hear the case until further notice.

Seven jurors have given sworn statements to Celis’ defense team saying they believed Luitjen favored prosecutors in Celis’ trial in February on the counts of falsely holding himself out as a lawyer. Celis faces three more trials on charges of money laundering, theft and impersonating a peace officer.

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(117) User Comments:

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Posted by 706882 on May 18, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.

sad times bro, sad times

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Posted by 714040 on May 18, 2009 at 1:32 p.m.

WOW...WHAT MONEY CAN DO...REALLY SAD TIMES WHEN JUSTICE IS NOT SERVED

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Posted by 706882 on May 18, 2009 at 1:34 p.m.

in response to 714040

I agree with you 100%...it really is amazing what cash can do..

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Posted by 233256 on May 18, 2009 at 1:39 p.m.

No justice on this one, but justice will eventually catch up to him. This guy looked so arrogant on t.v. that his body language yelled out "I'm above the law." People like him make me so sick.

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Posted by 708369 on May 18, 2009 at 1:42 p.m.

i called this one last year. told you.

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Posted by 463804 on May 18, 2009 at 1:42 p.m.

Judge Banales should have not been appointed to hear this case again. In order to get real justice, a judge from north, east or west Texas needs to preside. One can argue that Judge Banales is biased against the prosecution. This new ruling basically says that we are all now free to call ourselves, lawyers, doctors, bankers, etc., and get away with it!

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Posted by 273457 on May 18, 2009 at 1:43 p.m.

This city is like high school all over again. You have to be in the right click and then all is yours. Deep pockets, buy deep deception...Let's see how the judge handles the case of him in his bathroom wielding his 1960's sheriff's badge while he calls the former police chief to call off his own employee...that'll be worth watching.

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Posted by 419162 on May 18, 2009 at 1:43 p.m.

I think we need an investigation into corruption in Judge Bañales' office.

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Posted by 356943 on May 18, 2009 at 1:46 p.m.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THE CROOKS IN THIS TOWN AND THEY'RE GETTING AWAY WITH IT! ONCE AGAIN THE CITY OF SHAME.

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Posted by 323897 on May 18, 2009 at 1:47 p.m.

Interesting turn of events.... wasn't it just last week that we saw Banales and Canales in a photo together on the Caller website....

YEP... here it is...... IRONIC..........http://www.caller.com...

So glad my friend shared this with me.... just goes to show you that scratching each other's backs always helps............

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Posted by 606783 on May 18, 2009 at 1:53 p.m.

I CANNOT BELIEVE CELIS GOT OFF AFTER EVERYTHING HE DID. WOW. MONEY NEVER STOPS TALKING. Shame on Banales for playing local politics and screwing that up. NOT SURPRISED

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Posted by 311302 on May 18, 2009 at 1:54 p.m.

http://www.caller.com/photos/2009/may...

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Posted by 342632 on May 18, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.

I get the impression that Judge Banales got paid off. Is Judge Banales the judge that got his office refurbished because his wife moved funds from some place else in the city or county? I wonder what our District Attorney Valtez thinks of this situation?

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Posted by 714888 on May 18, 2009 at 1:58 p.m.

Payolagate...
Fakegate...
Baygate...

You always add "gate" to the name of a known scandal...don't you??? (I know it was the name of a hotel...work with me)

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Posted by 342632 on May 18, 2009 at 2 p.m.

Banalesgate......
Celisgate............
Garrettgate.........
Hummellgate.....
Coopergate........

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Posted by 239806 on May 18, 2009 at 2:02 p.m.

What is new! Celis paid off this Judge Banales! Banales needs to be taken off the bench. Celis also gave money to Peggy Banales when she ran for County Commissioner both times and has given money to Judge Banales when he ran for the bench. This is so unfair.

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Posted by 606783 on May 18, 2009 at 2:08 p.m.

WOW. Guess it is okay to impersonate a lawyer in this town anyway. Thanks for the exception Banales. Now maybe I can start working as a lawyer to earn extra money to pay off my house. Hope you dont get caught or hope you end up in Banales Court. No sweat.

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Posted by 292564 on May 18, 2009 at 2:13 p.m.

It took a while . . .but the check cleared.

Now anyone who wants to claim to be a lawyer, and get paid as such, can do so without any real consequences. Even throw in impersonating a policeman and nothing will change.

The power of cash and baby oil in the hot tub is amazing. . .

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Posted by 448291 on May 18, 2009 at 2:27 p.m.

Both Celis and Banales can be paid off. Both are crooks. End of story. Money can get you freedom and a good life style.

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Posted by 709468 on May 18, 2009 at 2:28 p.m.

I think we have All Just Found out That in Nueces County,Corpus Christi, State of Texas the Same thing California Found Out with the O J Simpson Thing. You Can Get JUST as much JUSTICE as YOU CAN AFFORD TO BUY in Corpus Christi!!! So, when are we Going to get an Investigation Into Corruption at City Hall, Commissiners Court, CCPD, and The Nueces County Court House? I guess as soon as WE ( The Citizens) can Afford It.

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Posted by 712045 on May 18, 2009 at 2:33 p.m.

This is a crock of _________!

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Posted by 700122 on May 18, 2009 at 2:35 p.m.

Because of this I'm going to start putting .esq after my name. Thanks Mauricio. I'm taking new clients.

Posted by 718420 on May 18, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

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Posted by 243263 on May 18, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.

kaaaaa....ching, another judge bought

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Posted by 285091 on May 18, 2009 at 2:41 p.m.

I've made a copy of the photo before it gets removed and destoryed forever and I've sent to everyone on my email list. just in case I turn up missing for copying the photo.

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Posted by 714577 on May 18, 2009 at 2:41 p.m.

WOW!

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Posted by 425944 on May 18, 2009 at 2:47 p.m.

This is the most disgusting change of events. Crooked Christi is right! There needs to be an investigation. Celis didn't like the judge and went behind the scenes and had the outcome changed JUST LIKE THAT?

SICKENING.

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Posted by 240593 on May 18, 2009 at 2:48 p.m.

why is everyone acting so surprised??...this is banales we are talking about... the man who can mow you down on the freeway and get a way with it!!

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Posted by 320071 on May 18, 2009 at 2:48 p.m.

Absolutely disgusting !

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Posted by 711512 on May 18, 2009 at 2:49 p.m.

Did Celis EVER give any money to Judge Banales, his wife or one of his friends?

If so, would you say that such a gift had at least the APPEARANCE of bias?

Maybe Judge Banales should have taken HIMSELF off of the case?

The Democratic Party of Corpus Christi is one very corrupt institution.

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Posted by 711512 on May 18, 2009 at 2:52 p.m.

Un-freaking-believable!!!

Banales is a corrupt insider!!!

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Posted by 378960 on May 18, 2009 at 2:53 p.m.

OH COME ON NOW, WE ALL KNEW HOW IT WAS GOING TO TURN OUT.THEY HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH SO MUCH STUFF OVER THE YEARS,NOBODY DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT ANYMORE. ITS NO USE. THATS WHY I SAY EVERY ELECTION VOTE NEW! DON'T KEEP PUTTING THE SAME ONES BACK IN.

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Posted by 238212 on May 18, 2009 at 2:55 p.m.

in response to 311302

Based on that photo at Coronation he should have excused himself from this trail or anything to do with it.

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Posted by 700122 on May 18, 2009 at 2:59 p.m.

in response to 342632

The smoking gun!

Between this and the Hon. Banales running over a poor txdot worker and his wife defrauding the county for his office and the show barn, the Banales' have used Nueces County tax payer money as their own personal account. If it wasn't my money being wasted this whole situation would be funny, like that show Arrested Development. But it's not funny.

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Posted by 711968 on May 18, 2009 at 3:03 p.m.

Wouldn't this simply be considered professional courtesy? You know, honor among thieves?

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Posted by 713678 on May 18, 2009 at 3:05 p.m.

Just wait until the new City Council comes on board; than you can start watching and making comments like: they're taking us to the cleaners. This is just the beginning.

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Posted by 244414 on May 18, 2009 at 3:07 p.m.

Why is everyone surprised. In this mid-size city law enforcement is corrupted.

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Posted by 425944 on May 18, 2009 at 3:16 p.m.

in response to 240593

Banales has MOWED TWO PEOPLE DOWN in his lifetime!

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Posted by 273452 on May 18, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.

Where's the blogger that says this venue is full of nothing but crabs-in-a-bucket keeping the rest down? Unless you consider some crabs on TOP that are PUSHING the rest down: this is why some bloggers write because they don't trust those in power. Crooked Christi. You go to jail, your life is ruined if you are not in the 'circle'. Watch this judge, watch who he 'flocks' with. Another sad shameful day for the taxpayers. That's why they don't have my respect.

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Posted by 460608 on May 18, 2009 at 3:52 p.m.

The main problem with the crooks in the poor neighborhoods is that nobody comes knocking bringing gifts.

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Posted by 709952 on May 18, 2009 at 3:53 p.m.

Banales needs to put a sign in his yard that says....(fill in the blank).

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Posted by 285091 on May 18, 2009 at 4:02 p.m.

That reads JUDGE FOR LEASE ONLY THOSE WITH A SIX FIGURE INCOME (BY WHATEVER MEANS) NEED APPLY. and in smaller letters on the bottom WIFE AVAILABLE FOR HOME OR OFFICE DECOR

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Posted by 709952 on May 18, 2009 at 4:08 p.m.

in response to 285091

also, " I run people over and get away with it".

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Posted by 251403 on May 18, 2009 at 4:19 p.m.

Why does everyone keep saying he got away with it? I don't call getting probation for 10 years "getting off". At least that means he has to stay clean and out of trouble for 10 years.

I do have to agree that the sentence Judge Luitjen gave him was over the top. I didn't understand the reasoning behind it. You see murderers and child molesters in this town getting off with probation and having bond set way lower than Celis' was. Honestly, who's more of a threat to society?

The only person Celis is a threat to is himself.

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Posted by 700122 on May 18, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.

in response to 709952

...my wife remodeled my office with tax payer money.

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Posted by 400726 on May 18, 2009 at 4:27 p.m.

"honest, hard working people need not apply"

"public offender"

"corruption runs in the family"

"I brake for noone"

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Posted by 323897 on May 18, 2009 at 4:29 p.m.

in response to 251403

Do you know how those he "represented" may be affected?
Do you know how much money he "washed' in Mexico?
Do you know how many "hands" he greased?
Do you know who was "greasing" his hands?
Have you a clue what "money" can do for convicts and self-serving attorneys/judges?

The implications of his actions are far reaching. No, he may not be a child molester, murderer or any of the likes, but the point is he was a participant and ring leader in a situation that was criminal. He is not above the law and by the actions of Banales today, it would seem to lead him to think otherwise.

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Posted by 709427 on May 18, 2009 at 4:40 p.m.

I cant believe there is not one post (unless i missed it) giving credit for this outrageos decision to Celis Attorney Tony Canales. Yes, its about the money and its about the politics and it shouldn't be a shock to anyone who has been in this city for more than a few months.

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Posted by 251403 on May 18, 2009 at 4:45 p.m.

in response to 709427

Give me a break...this kind of behavior happens in the highest of offices in our nation. It's not limited to the confines of CC.

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Posted by 285091 on May 18, 2009 at 4:45 p.m.

the reasoning behind it was that you will not inpersonate a lawyer and steal from the poeple, inpersonate a police officer and act like you are above the law. The reasoning behind it was if you do these things you will go to jail, we will take back the money you stole. Make everyone involved very nervous and make them think twice before conducting in this type of behavior but, now all that is out the window. lawyers, judges, cops it's business as usual. Thanks Judge, how does the new car handle?

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Posted by 375911 on May 18, 2009 at 4:48 p.m.

There is no such thing as justice in this town, just bought and paid for crooks posing as judges.
Get out and vote!

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Posted by 716192 on May 18, 2009 at 4:49 p.m.

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHEN IS BANALES UP FOR ELECTION BECAUSE HE WILL NOT BE ELECTED WITH MY VOTE.................

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Posted by 462770 on May 18, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.

Banales must be on the take. He will not get my vote in the next election where he is running.

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Posted by 714741 on May 18, 2009 at 5:02 p.m.

Banales is a thug---so---of course ---he sets him free.

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Posted by 432679 on May 18, 2009 at 5:40 p.m.

in response to 251403

Why does everyone keep saying he got away with it? I don't call getting probation for 10 years "getting off". At least that means he has to stay clean and out of trouble for 10 years.

_____________________

It's not that hard to stay out of trouble.

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Posted by 240953 on May 18, 2009 at 5:46 p.m.

I think someone should notified Bill O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel about this. It should be interesting what Bill says about this. I am sure Mr. O' Reilly will not take sides with Mr. Celis or Judge Banales, he might even have some not so nice words about Judge Banales. So come on Corpus Christi people let Bill O'Reilly know what went on there, with the Celis case.

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Posted by 240953 on May 18, 2009 at 6:47 p.m.

In reference to post 240953,
I meant to say someone there in Corpus Christi should notify the Fox News Channel, and leave Bill O' Reilly a note about this story.

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Posted by 613882 on May 18, 2009 at 7:01 p.m.

in response to 240953

line forms behind you.

knock yourself out, email everyone you know. Lets see if it turns out.

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Posted by 701008 on May 18, 2009 at 7:02 p.m.

FOR ONCE I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE COMMENTS HERE!!!! WAY TO GO CITIZENS OF CORPUS!! I THINK YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE HOW CORRUPT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDGES REALLY ARE!! IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, IT'S WHO YOU KNOW!!! I WONDER HOW THOMAS HENRY IS TAKING THIS RIGHT NOW?? HE AND SHERIFF KAILIN SURE WORKED HARD ON BRINGING HIM DOWN!

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Posted by 384415 on May 18, 2009 at 7:08 p.m.

Yay for Mauricio Celis!!!!

From his friends in AUSTIN TEXAS!!! HA HA!!! =)

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Posted by 320071 on May 18, 2009 at 7:25 p.m.

It's not what you KNOW, but who you KNOW, and how much money
you have to contribute to campaign contributions. Bet his friend, Mikal Watts may be doing some of the contributing.

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Posted by 342632 on May 18, 2009 at 7:38 p.m.

From what I'm hearing the state is making a national holiday for Celis.

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Posted by 323897 on May 18, 2009 at 8:01 p.m.

JANUARY 5, 2011
JANUARY 5, 2011
JANUARY 5, 2011

REPEAT UNTIL YOU HAVE IT EMBEDDED IN YOUR MEMORY!

JANUARY 5, 2011 IS THE EXPIRATION OF BANALES CURRENT TERM!

REMEMBER YOUR CONCERNS NOW AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION WHEN ELECTION TIME ROLLS AROUND! GET INVOLVED AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE YOU KNOW VOTES... and ONLY IF IT IS JUST TO VOTE HIM OUT!

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Posted by 714714 on May 18, 2009 at 8:58 p.m.

the judge did the right call. the judge has granted the jury's order...probation......period....not million fine, and year in jail...valdez does not speak for the community, he's on a personal vendetta...you can see the meanness in his crooked possum teeth...

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Posted by 714741 on May 18, 2009 at 9:14 p.m.

in response to 714714

I guess two wrongs make a right since the DA (according to you) has crooked teeth. WHAT LOGIC---GENIUS!!!!!!!!

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Posted by 718392 on May 18, 2009 at 9:44 p.m.

Crime only pays if you are Judge Banales your remember the guy who ran down a TxDot worker, the guy who gave his office a face lift with the help of his also criminal wife Peggy. Judge Banales seems to be getting away with alot.Think he is working with the devil? Oh yeah that would be with Celis & his deep pockets, & of course lets on forget Tony Canales his gangsters of choice... I smell corruption up the ying-yang. But the power of money can pay-off anything.I would like Mauricio Celis to have to serve the sentence he was originally givin by Judge Mark Luitjen. How could he be biased he was from out of town.? Besides he faces charges of money laundering "No Surprise there". Theft, & impersonation of a CCPD officer. Aint that the something !! he moonlights after a hard day as an attorney. Well lets see who gets the $$$$ pay-off money.. SCRATCH-EACH-OTHERS BACK BOYS Its working . note love comment # 251403

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Posted by 243840 on May 18, 2009 at 11:40 p.m.

Welcome to Corpus Christi, where all the justice you could ever want is yours for the purchase.

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Posted by 716296 on May 19, 2009 at 12:33 a.m.

Okay soooo let me get this right. Banalas himself said that prison time would be appropriate if there were sufficient room in the jails huh? So there is not room for even one more???? So If I go out and murder 5 people tomorrow I am not going to prison RIGHT BANALAS???

Or is there just lack of prison space for your fat a$$ buddies?

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Posted by 235624 on May 19, 2009 at 12:46 a.m.

in response to 285091

TFF...ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Posted by 443098 on May 19, 2009 at 1:24 a.m.

Pancho Villa saves Teflon Don..............I told you just watch!
Money will always talk ........RIGHT! WHAT A JOKE. WHO'S LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK NOW...CELIS,CANALES, BANALES, WHO'S NEXT!! CELIS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ARE YOU HIRING?

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Posted by 715837 on May 19, 2009 at 1:34 a.m.

in response to 323897

Don´t be paranoic!
you do exaggerate!........
you´re crazy......

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Posted by 272017 on May 19, 2009 at 1:35 a.m.

I have nothing nice to say about Celis,Banales,Canales so i will not post anything,but i will say thank god J A "Tony" Canales's daughter Barbara Canales Black lost to Congressman Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa otherwise our State would also be represented in Dist 33 by a Canales,cut with the same scissors and have fallen from the same rotten tree.

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Posted by 235641 on May 19, 2009 at 6:09 a.m.

in response to 448291

You said it perfectly; Celis and Simpson both got off through money-the root of all evil and poison to many.

Nonetheless, Banales and Celis are still accountable to God.

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Posted by 455356 on May 19, 2009 at 7:04 a.m.

All you people that are complaing where were you when Mr. Moff with the Appraisal District got off with probation when he stole from the people. Where were you when Sheriff Hickey was giving himself raises from the drug fund. Where was Mr. Valdez's outrage when he okayed 10 years probation for a DWI driver that murdered my friends daughter. If any cases merits probation this one does. Where is your outrage for the Judge that didn't give Mr. Celis a fair trail. If he wouldn't have been so bias it wouldn't have gone to another judge and he could have set the sentence. No matter what you feel about Mr Cellis he is still entitled to a fair trail just like you guys would want if by chance you ever find your self in a trail. You guys that want to call Mr. O"Rielly how much did he pay to get out of his sexual harrastment suit.

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Posted by 701008 on May 19, 2009 at 7:19 a.m.

in response to 455356

I smell a celis fan....by the way...since you're in favor for his criminal behavior and don't seem to care that he cashed in on all of those law suits, maybe you could shed some light on what happened to all of his "partners" at CGT?? Why aren't they being held accountable?? They were all a part of this scam too!! ...they took all of the pre-existing cases and ran in the wind with them...well...you seem to be so full of information, so I figured you'd be the one to ask???

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Posted by 420894 on May 19, 2009 at 7:42 a.m.

in response to 240953

Bill O'Reily is the lap dog of the GOP. The GOP being the biggest threat to the middle class means that your either making 6 figures or a really ignorant piece of sheep. I'm glad a good chunk of Americans arent as lazy and easily manipulated like you. It wouldnt surprise me if you obtain your political knowledge from CT. Pathetic

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Posted by 237538 on May 19, 2009 at 7:53 a.m.

What happened to the rape victim that Celis represented that dropped the criminal case against the suspect who was a prominent attorney?
Banales??? Come on folks, a judge from San Antonio is appointed who has a reputations for hanging em high and does is removed by the presiding Judge who appointed him...did Celis contribute to Peggy's campaign?
At any rate ever wonder why crime becomes rampant in a city.?.\1) weak police force 2) weak prosecution 3) an even weaker judicial system who won't hangem high.
Look at county's with Judges who hand out harsh sentences..crime is down..crooks go where crime is tolerated.
If the CC crime rate is high, Banales attitiude is a good reason..jails are crowded...I say rent space and ship him there. do the crime...make em do the time not some loop hole andn get out jail free card.

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Posted by 425944 on May 19, 2009 at 8:08 a.m.

There is still TWO more trials! He is going to pay ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

And remember folks, there are way more people involved in this than meets the eye. There are many other lawyers involved in this including Mikal Watts and Vance Owens and they do NOT want the light shined on them.

If Celis goes down, he's going to take them with him. So there are many wheels turning in this Corpus Christi corruption.

Watts is laying low and waiting for the day he can attempt to run for the Texas Senate again.

He's hoping we all will forget in a few years. But we won't.

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Posted by 240803 on May 19, 2009 at 8:25 a.m.

Money, corrupt polititions and judges, it worked for Nixon, Madoff, Blago, and countless other powerfull big wigs. The only people that were hurt were the selfish idiots wanting to get their approval or money in their pockets. What a Country.

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Posted by 240803 on May 19, 2009 at 8:29 a.m.

Valdez needs to prosecute these gangers, with as much passion and determination, as he is with Celis.

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Posted by 236373 on May 19, 2009 at 8:31 a.m.

THE CROOKED FEEDING THE CORRUPT.

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Posted by 240803 on May 19, 2009 at 8:37 a.m.

Bill O'Rielly thinks it's all about him, he is always looking at himself at the monitor to check how pretty he looks and the words, I, I, I, I, and me, me, me, me. He always includes himself in any subject. That's why I stick to Larry King and Lou Dobbs.

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Posted by 443939 on May 19, 2009 at 8:43 a.m.

money talks here

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Posted by 329691 on May 19, 2009 at 8:58 a.m.

in response to 714040

There is no justice in politics and law. Live with the outcome because the judge has made a decision and it's up to Celis to follow the judge's orders and stay out of jail.

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Posted by 717404 on May 19, 2009 at 9:13 a.m.

in response to 716192

TRUE THAT.......he is a criminal himself and someone needs to look into this I bet he got paid for this.

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Posted by 705366 on May 19, 2009 at 9:22 a.m.

Bogus charges?

I questioned the accuracy May 12 of an allegation that 26-year-old Jeffrey Stewart stole beer from a convenience store in the 5700 block of South Staples Street – an accusation that landed him in jail during in the early hours of May 9. See: http://www.caller.com/news/2009/may/1...

Stewart’s incarceration ended May 18 at approximately 6 p.m. – all charges dismissed – after our local judicial system processed Stewart’s online bank statement receipt for the beer that he purchased.

What is wrong with this picture?

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Posted by 359962 on May 19, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.

in response to 240803 Valdez needs to pay attention deep attention to all the gangbangers that are ruining this city like those most recent drive-by with 3 injured, 1 dead...As for Mr. Celis come on people get off his boo-tay already so what if his money talked, so what if he impersonated a lawyer probably doing a better job than all those high priced fools that run around town with heads bigger than a hot-air balloon thinking they are doing their community a service(Give me a break.)
One time when I saw Mr. Celis with some "friends" out an about throwing money away I saw all of these so called females(b___es from prominent families) all over Celis and his "friends" posing as if they cared but really they were just interested in his MONEY and 13 seconds of fame...He's really a nice guy just hung around the wrong "friends"...

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Posted by 455105 on May 19, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT I TOLD YOU SO, " I TOLD YOU", THIS MAN WAS NOT GOING TO JAIL. HE'S GOT TOO MUCH PULL AND TOO MUCH MONEY. GOOD JOB MAURICIO

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Posted by 237870 on May 19, 2009 at 10:34 a.m.

Corpus Christi will remain in the dark ages. Everything, including justice, is for sale here!

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Posted by 443939 on May 19, 2009 at 10:48 a.m.

so he is on probation now,but wont it be a violation of probation when he goes to court for other felonies?or are they going to tack on some more probation time,the way i veiw it, he is not much different than the gang bangers just got a college degree

there is a saying

you grow balls your going to have to wear them

send him to jail,stop treating criminals different based on there zip code and bank accounts

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Posted by 342632 on May 19, 2009 at 11:37 a.m.

Next they will be naming a road or a building here in Corpus Christi for Mauricio Celis.

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Posted by 340004 on May 19, 2009 at 11:43 a.m.

Rumor has it that some second rate collectors in Vegas got a hold of the Mauricio Celis/ Banales trading cards and are selling them on http://www.celisthiscardnow.com

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Posted by 718420 on May 19, 2009 at 12:58 p.m.

I wonder which drug cartel has these two crooks in their pocket?

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Posted by 717920 on May 19, 2009 at 1:19 p.m.

In response to 455356:

What does it matter where people were when those other things you mentioned happened? What really matters is what is happening now. I'm fairly new to the area so don't know about those other items which you are referring to. What I do know is that I haven't been here long but long enough to get an idea of how things work in this town. There are no excuses for what is happening here. It's straight up corrupt.

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Posted by 240803 on May 19, 2009 at 1:22 p.m.

in response to 359962

I did imply that Valdez needs to persue these idiot gangbangers, with as much passion, as he did with Celis and that the only people that Celis hurt were the idiots that fell for his scams.

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Posted by 359962 on May 19, 2009 at 1:34 p.m.

In response to 240803....TRUE DAT...TRUE DAT...UR ON THE RIGHT TRACK AMIGO (A)

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Posted by 240803 on May 19, 2009 at 1:36 p.m.

Corruption is everywhere in this country and in the highest offices of our nation, I read all news, not only what happens in Corpus Christi. Some of you live in your own little world with very limited information. It is legal to provide money to a politition for his election. At least Celis was charged. Many are not even charged or the charges are dropped before they even get to court. Celis knew the sentence would be probation and his other trials will result in the same if found guilty. Get over it.

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Posted by 713747 on May 19, 2009 at 1:42 p.m.

Hurray for Celis!

I worked for two prominent lady attorneys here in town and they were just as crooked as Mauricio Celis, if not more. After being told I was doing a fine job on Thusday, the next day I was laid off because I happened to know someone that knew her husband's ex-wife. I saw so much corruption in that office it was pathetic. When she let me go that was the happiest day of my LIFE!

Corruption is everywhere!

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Posted by 264484 on May 19, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.

it is unbeliveable what you learn while working for the legal system.it is all a bunch of b___. the system is corrupt to the finest. money is what matters. it is so transparent the arrangement; out with the outside judge,bring in the "pal". the one that really knows whats going on. money is of great concern to us working folks trying to pay the rent,and utilities. forget groceries,there isn't enough for that. mr.celis, i sure would appreciate a job with your company. maybe than my bills would get paid on time. old saying is so true..."money talks,_____".

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Posted by 240953 on May 19, 2009 at 3:07 p.m.

Well I am wondering if these lawyers in Corpus Christi who worked with Celis feel stupid for hiring someone who went around representing himself as a lawyer. Who hired Celis and who in that office was responsible for checking his credentials. Or did he say " I have a law degree from Mexico" and whoever hired him said, ok good enough, you're hired.

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Posted by 716660 on May 19, 2009 at 3:20 p.m.

Like this turn of events should surprise anyone!! Come on!!! Don't forget he has a few more trails to get through.

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Posted by 248997 on May 19, 2009 at 3:25 p.m.

THE ONLY THING THIS COUNTY NEEDS IS THE OLD CHICAGO MAYOR RICHARD DALY AND THE CORRUPTION WILL BE COMPLETE.

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Posted by 275094 on May 19, 2009 at 3:29 p.m.

VOTE OUT JUDGE BANALES!!! VOTE OUT JUDGE BANALES! VOTE OUT JUDGE BANALES!

This man is corrupt! He has to go! Exercise your rights and take him out!

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Posted by 275094 on May 19, 2009 at 3:40 p.m.

Also:

http://www.scjc.state.tx.us/faqs.asp

Is the Link for the state Commission on Judicial Conduct... If you feel that Judge Banales has committed acts of Judicial Misconduct, file a complaint with the commission.

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Posted by 376065 on May 19, 2009 at 5:21 p.m.

in response to 248997

What are you talking about? We have Richard Daly reincarnated with a darker tan as President now. God help us all.

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Posted by 706973 on May 19, 2009 at 5:43 p.m.

Lawyers will always take care of their own.....

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Posted by 718229 on May 19, 2009 at 5:58 p.m.

in response to 356943

Yes, he is getting away with it. I guess he'll be going back to his home in Kings Crossing. A home he earned while lieing about being "an attorney".

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Posted by 409986 on May 19, 2009 at 6:20 p.m.

if anything celis helped victims get money. he did not steal there money. yes corruption is everywhere all they to the top but this guy gave back to the community some of you are which are benefiting from like catholic schools and hospitals and your politicians who you voted for.

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Posted by 281725 on May 19, 2009 at 7:07 p.m.

I do not believe Judge Banales is corrupt. Why would he jeopardize his name and career over a fist full of dollars. It doesn't make sense. Can anyone come forward with solid proof? As for Celis - my hats’ off to him. If he practiced without a license for a long period of time, blame the state for not catching it earlier. His actions will make the system stronger. Judge Banales should, as a condition of probation, order Mr., Celis to law school. Obviously Mr. Celis would make a great attorney - send him to school and let him contribute his talents representing the community. Keeping track of this entire story, I do not find Celis as a vicious nature. He is kind generous and needs direction – great talents. Most of you need to walk a mile in any prosecutor’s and Judge’s shoes before condemnation. Jails are crowded, budgets are thin, and most are willing to slam the system without looking at the whole picture.

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Posted by 323897 on May 19, 2009 at 8:24 p.m.

in response to 281725

Let's rule out who you might be:

1. Peggy Banales
2. An employee of the county working for Manuel Banales
3. A family member of the Banales'
4. A friend of the Banales'

or you might be:

1. Mauricio Celis
2. Tony Canales
3. Mikal Watts
4. Maurico's wife
5. A family member of Celis'
6. A friend of the Celis'

Either way, for you to state that Judge Banales is not corrupt leads me to believe you have a personal connection to him. He made his name known as Manuel "MAXIMUM" Banales and then scolds a reputable judge for doing the same - handing down a strong punishment. Amazing how when his friends are backed in a corner, his idea of "justice" just might be for sale in one fashion or another - mone doesn't always have to be exchanged for someone to be bought.

AND....... it's not just this matter with Banales that people are irrate about.... it's all that he has gotten away with due to his "influence" and the "influence" of his compadres. Let me just highlight what has been posted here thus far to give you an example:

1. Hit a mentally challenged man on Leopard - got away with it
2. Didn't find anything unethical about using Precinct One (which happened to be the area represented by his wife) County Road money to refurbish his office
3. Hit a TxDOT worker and injured him for life - another slap on the hand
4. now this.......... and these are only matters that have been published, Lord knows how many others lives this man has "disturbed" due to his machismo

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Posted by 281725 on May 19, 2009 at 8:43 p.m.

Response to 323897:

I am not any of the people you described above. I am a displaced Corpus Christian stuck in Houston, TX, but have been following the story. I do know people [acquaintances] of Celis who do not have anything bad to speak of him. Take it for what it is worth; no matter who you have in elected office (city, county, etc.) or in the judicial system, you the voters have the control over the City's future. You can cleanup City Hall, the judicial system and/or the Federal Government. It does no good if we can't see a change in attitude starting here on the forums. Judge Banales has had his share of bad luck and I am sure the circumstances (punishment - if any) warranted the outcome. It is ok to be frustrated with the totality of the circumstances, but as a reasonable person, I believe that negative attitudes overshadow the good. Look what is happening in Taft, TX

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Posted by 237870 on May 19, 2009 at 11:14 p.m.

The dogs bark... The caravan moves on.

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Posted by 700122 on May 20, 2009 at 8:32 a.m.

in response to 281725

I like how you say Celis is a "kind man." I don't know too many kind men that chase after young women in their bathrobe holding a pistol.

In fact that sounds like a bad man.

But hey if the Bishop thinks he's cool then I guess that settles that.

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Posted by 251403 on May 20, 2009 at 10:28 a.m.

This is how rumors get started...

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Posted by 329691 on May 20, 2009 at 2:13 p.m.

in response to 376065

Come on you should be ashamed of yourself for making such racial remarks. Mr. Obama has barely been in office for 100 days and you're already calling him corrupt? Sorry if your candidate didn't win. Georgie lover.....

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Posted by 709654 on May 20, 2009 at 2:25 p.m.

“If the jail were not so crowded, it may be appropriate to put this defendant in jail for a certain amount of time, but we’re not there, we don’t have that luxury,” Bañales said.

You have GOT to be kidding me?!?!!

I bet the jail would accommodate MY behind in a heart beat for a TRAFFIC WARRANT!

Take me now 'O Lord fore I have surely heard it all!

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Posted by 700122 on May 20, 2009 at 3:46 p.m.

I thought for sure that the sheriff was going to say how he has plenty of room.

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Posted by 370677 on May 20, 2009 at 6:05 p.m.

Isnt it funny how easily these jerks can slander the visiting judge and NO ONE says a thing but celis and canales play the race card and everyone is behind them . This sorry piece of slime NEEDS to go to JAIL for life and canales with him !!! LIARS and thieves the bunch.

POST BY : NOT ALLOWED TO POST AT CALLER.COM

IT KIND OF IS FUNNY HOW JUDGMENTALLY SOBER Y'ALL SEEM TO BE. THE REAL REASON CELIS IS IN TROUBLE IS HE AND DAMON BENTLEY, ALLEGED TO BE FRIENDS INVITED A WEIRDO GIRL, WHO FLED NAKED DOWN THE STREETS OF kINGS CROSSING.

WHERE WAS HER BOYFRIEND? YOU KNOW THE GUY WHO BROUGHT HER TO HIS PARTNERS HOT TUB? WHERE IS DAMON AND LINDY NOW?

ARE THEY FILING CHARGES ON CELIS?

IN UTOPIA?

The irony of Smith and Celis' dilemmas..........Tony the Two-fer

2008-05-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

Local
Call to chief leads to badge inquiry
Smith: Man drew attention to the situation

By Denise Malan (Contact)
Originally published 03:53 a.m., October 26, 2007
Updated 03:53 a.m., October 26, 2007

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Smith says a late-night call by Celis piqued his interest in the situation.
Smith says a late-night call by Celis piqued his interest in the situation.

CORPUS CHRISTI — A middle-of-the-night call Mauricio Celis placed to Police Chief Bryan Smith asking for help backfired.

Smith said the phone call piqued his interest in the incident in which Celis flashed a law enforcement badge. The Monday after the Sept. 15 incident, Smith said he looked into the initial report and called Sheriff Jim Kaelin to start an investigation.

"The whole reason he got investigated for the badge was he brought himself to my attention," Smith said.

Full police reports of the incident haven't been released because of the pending investigation, but Lt. Michael Markle, who responded to the incident that led to the call to the chief, gave this account:

A naked woman ran to a Southside Stripes store around 4 a.m. Sept. 15 and climbed into a woman's truck. The truck's driver gave the woman a T-shirt and called police, saying the naked woman may have been sexually assaulted.

The woman fled from the parking lot in the T-shirt before police arrived and ran north on Staples Street. One officer went to the Stripes to interview the caller, while Markle and two officers stayed on Staples, found the woman and interviewed her.

The woman never said she was assaulted, and denied it when asked, Markle said. She declined, in writing, attention from medics who Markle had summoned.

The woman had been drinking that night with Celis and another male friend. The three had climbed naked into Celis' hot tub. The other man apparently tried to have sex with the woman, causing her to flee the house, Markle said.

As police interviewed the woman, Celis arrived at the Stripes, with the other man, looking for her. Celis, clad in a bathrobe, didn't show a badge at first, but told the officer he was a "five" -- slang for law enforcement officer.

That officer walked the 200 yards up Staples to where the other police were interviewing the woman, and Celis followed in his car. He flashed a badge and told Markle he would take custody of the woman, but Markle refused.

"I'm not going to let somebody in a bathrobe take custody of a distraught naked female," Markle said.

The officers tried to find a ride home for the woman, but her cell phone was in her car, parked at a Southside restaurant and bar. A female officer took her to her car to find friends' or family members' contact information.

"They leave, and I speak to Mauricio briefly," Markle said. "I said you guys need to go home. We're just going to write a report about this. There's no allegations at this time. Good night."

That's when Celis took out his phone and dialed Smith's cell phone, waking him. Smith said he didn't recognize the phone number that appeared on his cell, but he immediately called back because any call at that hour makes him worry that something may have happened to an officer.

Celis, who Smith said was an acquaintance, told Smith his friend was drunk and in trouble, then handed the phone to Markle, telling him the chief wanted to speak with him. Markle said he told Smith briefly about the incident. Smith replied: "Just do what you've got to do."

"I have a rule," Smith said Thursday. "I don't make decisions for officers in the field."

Smith said he met Celis in January when former Sheriff Larry Olivarez brought him to the police department to ask about an investigation. Olivarez works for Celis at CGT Law Group International. Smith said he ran into Celis several times since but is not a friend and didn't know how Celis got his cell phone number. Smith said he has had the number for maybe 12 years, since his days as a community police officer.

"My phone number is pretty well known," Smith said. "Me getting called is not unusual. I was very upset by, first of all, him calling me at that time in the morning and that he would stick a phone in a supervising officer's face."

An officer drove the woman home, and Celis and his friend went home. Markle said no arrests were made because the woman said no sexual assault occurred, and police had no proof that night that Celis was or was not a law enforcement officer.

Police originally thought Celis's badge was from the Nueces County Sheriff Department, which is why Smith called Kaelin. Kaelin found out the badge was from Duval County, though Celis hadn't been licensed for four years.

Olivarez surrendered the badge to the Nueces County Sheriff's Department. Celis also is accused of impersonating a lawyer. He has not responded to repeated requests for interviews.

Contact Denise Malan at 886-4334 or at maland@caller.com

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(89) User Comments:
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related links Posted by 460608 on October 26, 2007 at 5:17 a.m.

Celis needs a REAL lawyer. One from out of Town. Olivarez needs to get REAL and find a REAL job. Kalelin needs to call in a REAL raw Texas Ranger to investigate the whole REAL rotten bunch of them. Smith and Markle need a REAL applause from the community.

And all these people running around thinking they are something REAL special need to see a REAL psychotherapist for attitude adjustments.
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related links Posted by 233913 on October 26, 2007 at 6:47 a.m.

Post 1 - Thanks for keeping it REAL! But as long as we're keeping it "real" - will all the people in Corpus who have Chief's Smith's "real" private phone number please step forward. That's a little "unreal" - no aspersions on the Chief - if I were him I'd start asking around about how many people are just handing out that number as some sort of party favor to people who feel they just might need to make that connection!
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related links Posted by 411404 on October 26, 2007 at 7:33 a.m.

sounds like spin to me...
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related links Posted by 699888 on October 26, 2007 at 8:03 a.m.

funny until it was posted on these blogs...it never came out about the phone call to Smith..plenty of time to get a story straight...
Plus if it was a serious call.he has a text pager that tells him that...
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related links Posted by 706714 on October 26, 2007 at 8:20 a.m.

Caller times quote of the day......"I have a rule," Smith said Thursday. "I don't make decisions for officers in the field."

That statement from the Chief is 100% accurate! Unless you count the times when the suspect's name is "Smith". In those situations, quote number one may be less than 100% accurate.
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related links Posted by 699325 on October 26, 2007 at 9:11 a.m.

spin doctors. get the real police report.
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related links Posted by 699874 on October 26, 2007 at 9:16 a.m.

Lt. Michael Markle deserves an award !!
Thank you all the officers at the scene for protecting that woman and not falling for a lie.
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related links Posted by 234600 on October 26, 2007 at 9:16 a.m.

"I'm not going to let somebody in a bathrobe take custody of a distraught naked female," Markle said.

Best quote ever--good job, officer, for keeping that poor woman away from him.
Reply to this Post | Suggest removal
related links Posted by 704925 on October 26, 2007 at 9:58 a.m.

This was good professional police work. KUDOs to Chief Smith and Lt. Markle for a job well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this Post | Suggest removal
related links Posted by 239636 on October 26, 2007 at 10:04 a.m.

Why weren't Celis and his friend given sobriety tests? If the female admitted to drinking with them and was drunk at 4 am, why wouldn't it seem to reason that the others would be intoxicated also. If Smith didn't do any favors then why were they allowed to drive away no questions asked. Something ain't right!

I don't buy the chiefs explanation. He is distancing himself now that the story has broken.
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related links Posted by 704925 on October 26, 2007 at 10:10 a.m.

Post #7 --------You are trying to SPIN this back to another subject --------------- QUIT THAT
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related links Posted by 705049 on October 26, 2007 at 10:11 a.m.

All of these guys are real pieces of work. Most of what's in the article above is too over the top with "do-gooder" comments to actually believe. But I gotta say, Celis is the biggest idiot of them all.
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related links Posted by 699325 on October 26, 2007 at 10:34 a.m.

so, this is the Lt's account...given to who the chief? ask a question...the incident happened on September 15, why is it that the police "report" is dated October 4th?
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related links Posted by 317094 on October 26, 2007 at 10:35 a.m.

This all sounds reasonable to me.

The bathrobe... of course he was wearing a bathrobe. No one ever tries to pin on a badge when they are naked twice.

Naked woman at 4 am. Hey... Kings Crossing. Need I say more?

Calling the chief in the middle of the night...... maybe he only wanted kinky sexual advice, or advice on how to handle mad naked women, not legal help.

This story is more fun than anything on cable.
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related links Posted by 704925 on October 26, 2007 at 10:45 a.m.

This guy Celis seems to be into some heavy duty bad stuff. Have you noticed how the politicians are running away from him, returning his contributions, etc.? I wonder if Mr. Watts decision to drop our of the Senate race was influenced by any of this.

Seems to me that The Chief & CCPD are doing a good job of uncovering some bad things that are going on in Corpus Christi. It will be interesting to see if there will be any "follow thru" from the Justice system.
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related links Posted by 356013 on October 26, 2007 at 11:04 a.m.

I think those that want to imply the chief of police is somehow bad will do so and no matter what is reported, someone will call it spin. Fact is according the Sherrif as well, Smith contact him for the investigation, Smith did not attempt to let it slide. I say first and foremost, great job to the LT on the scene, great job by the Chief staying out of the active situation, and great job for the Chief following up next business day withe the Sherrif, everything worked as it should. But then again someone will spin it to say the chief was in the hot tub with them all along.....
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related links Posted by 246926 on October 26, 2007 at 11:18 a.m.

The Caller Times is playing catchup to the more timely and better written articles in the San Antonio Express.
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related links Posted by 251548 on October 26, 2007 at 11:33 a.m.

Post 20 then stay with San Antonio Express, obviously you're enjoying the Caller Times because you keep coming here reading and posting.
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related links Posted by 258638 on October 26, 2007 at 12:10 p.m.

Post 2

One of the great things about Chief Smith is his 'open door' policy with officers and the community. He promotes communication instead of hindering it. Lt. Markle did a great job, but Chief Smith fosters the atmosphere and culture that allows officers to do the right thing.

Before you nut-jobs start in - one mistake is no one's whole life. GET OVER IT!

KUDOS to CCPD!
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related links Posted by 709276 on October 26, 2007 at 12:25 p.m.

Chief Smith doesn't know Celis...give me a break! I've seen these two out together at Havana Club before. What a liar! It's so funny how all these people who have been closely associated with Mr. Celis are trying so hard to distance themselves from him now that the sh*t's hit the fan.
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related links Posted by 329705 on October 26, 2007 at 12:36 p.m.

Post 17 -
What does Damon Bently have to do with anything? Who cares if he knows him or his girl that was running around naked.

Post 22 -
Uh, people call stand beside each other, have a drink, and make small talk without having to be friends!!! Stop making accusations!
Reply to this Post | Suggest removal
related links Posted by 709276 on October 26, 2007 at 12:41 p.m.

Post 23 That's no accusation...they were sitting together...in a booth, all night long. I was there.
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related links Posted by 231171 on October 26, 2007 at 1:11 p.m.

Whoa 24, are you serious?!?!?!?!

When I first moved here, I thought "this place can't be real." Then I thought "well, I'm sure stuff like I'm seeing here happens everywhere." I'm now back to "this place can't be real."

Go Sheriff Kaelin. Think he's a great guy.
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related links Posted by 305005 on October 26, 2007 at 1:53 p.m.

Who was the other man in the hot tub?
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related links Posted by 329705 on October 26, 2007 at 2:07 p.m.

Ok Post 24 - They MUST be friends if they were sitting together all night long!
Were they holding hands? Did the Chief buy him a drink?

If they were FRIENDS, then why didn't the chief have Celis' cell number programmed in his phone? Friends usually have other friends' number!

Wanna be my friend?!??
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related links Posted by 329705 on October 26, 2007 at 3:05 p.m.

where does it say the other man was D. Bentley? The report said she fled when the other man, not Celis, tried to have sex with her. Why would she flee if her BOYFRIEND tried having sex with her?
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related links Posted by 705049 on October 26, 2007 at 3:08 p.m.

I'm semi-convinced the chief has some bad judgement. I don't think he's a bad guy and I don't believe he raped that woman....But putting himself in the position to be accused of it to the extent that the claim got as far as it did, was a bad judgement call.

The chief is probably friends with this cling-on, Celis, but did not want to get involved in the mess that night (especially since he just got cleared for rape). That was probably a good call on his part. But the fact that he is even mixed up with this idiot is not so good.
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related links Posted by 699874 on October 26, 2007 at 3:30 p.m.

poster 30: I was thinking the same thing.
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related links Posted by 425944 on October 26, 2007 at 4:03 p.m.

post 17 & 22

You are just making up lies to deflect attention off your good buddie Larry Olivarez and Mauricio Celis and Mikal Watts! For all we know you ARE MAURICIO CELIS!

I've got news for you, If Chief Smith is such a good friend of Celis' and they've been seen together, then Chief Smith sure did turn on him! huh?

Chief Brian Smith tore him a new one!! ahahahah That's not to friendly is it?

Chief Smith and Sheriff Kaelin worked to get the facts straight and investigate their suspicions before they hauled his butt to jail! Due to their diligent work, more has come to light than just Celis naked in a bathrobe with a badge. A whole lot more. I for one am glad to see the Sheriff (unlike his counterpart Larry) working with the CCPD instead of against them like in the past!
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related links Posted by 709276 on October 26, 2007 at 4:04 p.m.

Post 27 Actually Mr. Celis was the one buying the Chief drinks all night. And about the phone number, you're right, silly me to think anyone involved in this story would tell a lie. Sorry for being so cynical...and no thank you, I have enough friends. : )
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related links Posted by 702528 on October 26, 2007 at 4:43 p.m.

I don't know if I believe Chief Brian Smith. I mean obviously Celis is somewhat of an intelligent guy to pose as a lawyer and get away with it as long as he did. Why would he incriminate himself by calling Brian Smith. If he did not know Brian Smith why would he all of a sudden bring himself into the spot light?? I think Brian Smith is more than an acquintance and now that his name is out, again, he is trying to deny any wrong doing. The same way he denied having anything to do with his own case in which has to do with RAPE!!!! I think this calls for an impeachment!!!!
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related links Posted by 425944 on October 26, 2007 at 5:09 p.m.

post 35 thats a stretch.
Are you the girlfriend that was scorned?

The one that concocted this whole lie, to try to take the love of your life down with you? You really are desperate aren't you? Caller Times should out you! For Fraud! Perpetuating a lie to the Police Department and making false accusations can land YOU in jail too!
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related links Posted by 425944 on October 26, 2007 at 5:14 p.m.

post 29,,,,,,,how do find a police report? What is the web site for this information and is it free?
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related links Posted by 709276 on October 26, 2007 at 5:20 p.m.

Post 38 you must be the fiancee of Chief Smith...so defensive.
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related links Posted by 411404 on October 26, 2007 at 5:32 p.m.

Let’s see if I understand the situation, the Caller Times sits on a local story for weeks that is being reported in other cities and it’s own blog. A scared naked woman decides to say nothing happened after the man she ran from displayed a badge demanding to take custody of her and had the police chief (who has been accused of rape himself) on Celis own phone. Only the Caller times could now make Smith the “hero” of the story. Not! Thank goodness for the Lieutenant on scene making sure some kind of report was written while the facts were still fresh, and our sheriff for not backing down. The rest of you keep paying CT your subscription money, I will have get my local news from SA.
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related links Posted by 411404 on October 26, 2007 at 5:37 p.m.

What's this votes thing at the bottom of the posts? sorry I'm new here.
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related links Posted by 425944 on October 26, 2007 at 5:45 p.m.

Post 41, ...............Brian Smith does not have a fiance. Where have you been?

He is happily married now. I don't know Brian Smith but I do know others that know Brian Smith and that mentally disturbed ex.

And I heard the wedding was beautiful as was the bride.
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related links Posted by 425944 on October 26, 2007 at 5:46 p.m.

thanks post 40!
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related links Posted by 425944 on October 26, 2007 at 7:10 p.m.

you sound like his scorned wacko ex-girlfriend!
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related links Posted by 699874 on October 26, 2007 at 7:10 p.m.

Re post 34 quote: "Actually Mr. Celis was the one buying the Chief drinks all night."

Is this true or just someone being sarcastic ?
(I say this because isn't the Chief supposed to avoid alcohol and get tested regularly for alcohol after the recent incident?)
related links Posted by 699365 on October 26, 2007 at 7:37 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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related links Posted by 460608 on October 26, 2007 at 7:50 p.m.

Corpus Christi has grown a little since the early eighties when a very rich man said that Corpus Christi is a gossipy place.

Nick Jimenez the Editorial Page Editor once said in one of his columns that the C-T knows where all the "bones" are buried.

I reckon so.
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related links Posted by 425944 on October 26, 2007 at 10:06 p.m.

Post 54 & 55......That's exactly what I suspect too. Celis probably enjoys having law enforcement connections to get the clearance for the drugs to pass through.

It probably also comes in handy for Celis to fly his private plane down South to the border to make his pickup and fly his illegal contraband back to undisclosed locations as he lands his plane incognito. Bam, millions and million of dollars just flowing in.

And his close relationships with strippers and strip bars. Notoriously known for drug abuse. Maybe thats why he pointed a gun to some guy out side of a strip club. Maybe it was a drug deal gone bad. Maybe the apartment door he banged down to get to a stripper who coincidently locked herself in the bathroom was a drug deal gone bad too.

Something is just not right here. It stinks to high hell.
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related links Posted by 237929 on October 26, 2007 at 11:57 p.m.

As someone who cares about the Corpus Christi community for good and bad the Caller-Times should regulate these comment sections more. Most of the comments are just ways of bashing others and often time victims in a situation. In other posting sections online your must stick to subject at hand and have a true comment or motion of debate. In doing this you must also act like an adult. These comment areas are just ways to create more hate and separation in this community. It is not even worth reading the Caller-Times online anymore with out being subjected to so much trash. To those who don’t agree with this just comment like usual with hate but I will not be responding to any messages at all. My only true comment is that the Caller-Times should have an option to turn these comments off for readers who wish not to partake and read the news just for news.
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related links Posted by 236565 on October 27, 2007 at 1:22 a.m.

It sure is funny what the Caller Times leaves out in their stories...like the identity of the "other guy in the tub." Its been public information that the other guy was Damon Bentley for over a month...yet NO MENTION in this joke of a paper, channel 3,6,or 10. This ridicuously slanted newspaper conveniently leaves that out. They conveniently leave out that this was Damon's girlfiend involved. They leave out that Kaelin ordered Olivarez to surrender the badge in question and Olivarez did as he was told by the Sheriff. You don't think its important to know that this so called "victim" was in a hot tub naked with her own boyfriend...HER BOYFRIEND...not Mauricio and a "mystery man." I guess that part does not sell papers. In my opinion...CELIS was set up. Its over 2 miles from Celis house to the stripes....if she was in REAL danger, why not go screaming to the next door neighbor or the hundreds of houses within 10 feet? It would be nice if the caller just reported things straight up. Patrick B's agenda is becoming all to obvious and dangerously blatant....Im sure this post will be removed.
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related links Posted by 425944 on October 27, 2007 at 8:05 a.m.

post 61>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

these comment boards are also a way to dig deeper and find out the truth about elected officials. Maybe people will fly right and above board when working for the public from now on. Maybe these boards will cause people to be honest in their high power positions.

There is also a lot of truth that comes out here. The posters do a great job of researching their posts. The public has a right to know when they have been scammed by politicians once again.
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related links Posted by 452228 on October 27, 2007 at 8:48 a.m.

Post 65

There is also a lot of things that totally untrue that are found on here. You throw that in with all the accusations and allegations which both the poster (who I honestly feel like most of the time know what they are typing is nothing more than their opinion be it based on fact, bias or ignorance) and then at least some of the readers actually accept them as being true. Seems like a pretty irresponsible thing for a newspaper that is supposed to be about reporting the news to be involved in promoting.

It would be great if there was a way to weed out all the things that are fabricated as well as the outright lies which you find on here but I don't really know how you can do that. While having email addresses as well as verified names of the posters for all to see might help some I don't know that would eliminate some of the things that are put on here.

I don't want to hear anything about freedom of speech either because with that comes a responsibility and in particular when you start making malicious statements about people. Public figures are pretty much free game under our laws but many of the blogs under the stories over the last few months go way to far.
My guess is that one day there will be a lawsuit filed and perhaps then the rules of this type of venue will be altered.
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related links Posted by 702497 on October 27, 2007 at 9:22 a.m.

I know Markle...he is one hell of an officer. By the book, you name it. He does not let anyone tell him what to do.

Smith's story sounds legit because I have seen this happen before.

Celis sounds like a total loser. Calling anybody to get him out of trouble. mr. "I am king and I will always get what I want because I have connections." My butt he has connections...in his make believe world he thinks big people in big places are his friends. He never asked SMith for his number. SO he got it from a third party and saved it to his phone so he could look important. Give me a brake. I think this guy is a mental case.
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related links Posted by 452228 on October 27, 2007 at 9:54 a.m.

Post 67
And your post is like far too many in that you are not even in the ballpark. It takes the same energy and effort to type things that are incorrect as it does those that are actually factual. Besides that you missed the whole point but I guess expecting that people having some level of responsibility for what they present as being factual on here is asking a little too much.

The post has nothing to do with this specific story but is a comment on what goes on over and over with respect to numerous stories. It was not a flippant post or where someone jumps from point a to point g and thinks they are all connected.
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related links Posted by 452228 on October 27, 2007 at 10:26 a.m.

post 70

We obviously don't agree in that I don't think it is correct for people through using conjecture, assumptions and rumors to make statements which are presented as though they are factual and certainly when some people read them they (right or wrong) assume them to be the truth about people.

Using your guidelines, I could post something on here about you personally and should not be libel if what I put I either know is not true or I am irresponsible and have no proof to back up what I say about you.

If you want to go start a blog and do that type of thing (there are several here in Corpus Christi that come to mind), I fully support your right to do so but even then you would be subject to the laws about slander and libelous statements (as you should be). I just don't see why a newspaper would want to stoop to that level and be a part of it by hosting this type of forum in it's current format.

Why should you feel like you have to hide and not be identified with the posts you make? You have no problem with free speech if what you are doing is not wrong under the law so it should not stop your saying the same things. Well, unless what you are saying is just something dreamed up in your mind.

Last post on this topic so from this point on you can talk to yourself and it's not like you are going to change your opinion or mine.
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related links Posted by 348998 on October 27, 2007 at 11:10 a.m.

If people don't think that there is not a "good ole' boy network" in town, they should hang out at your local stripes drunk with a naked woman. I'd bet that you'd go to jail pretty quick. At the very least all parties should have gone to jail for public intoxication, they had been drinking until 4:00 a.m.
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related links Posted by 348998 on October 27, 2007 at 11:12 a.m.

I'm post 73

Before anyone points it out I found my double negative. I need a little more coffee!
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related links Posted by 699260 on October 27, 2007 at 11:27 a.m.

Post 61, didn't you post these same comments almost word for word at "AG: Man's Law Firm Not Legal?" Rather than paste and copy, you can go back to that story and read my remarks concerning your comment. :)
related links Posted by 319401 on October 27, 2007 at 3:42 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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related links Posted by 398109 on October 27, 2007 at 4:54 p.m.

djid chief smith called anyone when he was knocking on his ex-giirlfriend and was accused of trying to assault her, this even after he performed at a circus-like atmosphere proposing to his girlfriend. what a fake. what ever happened to him?
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related links Posted by 389468 on October 27, 2007 at 6:43 p.m.

Bryan Smith a hero?
pleeeeeeeze!
Bryan Smith and Mauricio Celis have been chasing skirts together for some time. I'm sure their cozy relationship will be exposed for the mutually beneficial slippery slope that it is.
In spite of Bryan Smith's shady dealings, Markle stood up for the right thing.
Good job Markle.
Go home Smith!
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related links Posted by 411404 on October 28, 2007 at 12:27 p.m.

People you need to check other sources. The Caller Times has an inability to conduct an investigation into the local power elite. Why have we not heard anything about Larry Olivarez and his Costa Rica trip that led to the arrest of another sheriff? Read the real story:
Kaelin, whose deputies were called after the Sept. 15 incident that involved Celis and the naked woman, said he does not understand why Corpus Christi police allowed it to end as it did.
"How could this type of scenario — a naked woman, a Stripes (convenience) store, a man in a bathrobe — occur, and everyone goes home? No badges confiscated. No statements taken at the scene. The woman wasn't taken to a hospital," he said. "I find that very unusual."
Kaelin said that among the odder aspects of the episode was Celis calling Corpus Christi Police Chief Bryan Smith on his cell phone and then handing the phone to the lieutenant at the scene.
"The chief then had a conversation with the officer, and everyone went home," the sheriff said.
related links Posted by 319401 on October 28, 2007 at 7 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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related links Posted by 699874 on October 28, 2007 at 8:28 p.m.

post 79: excellent post.

Hooray for Kaelin...........I think he is the only one thinking clearly in this whole messy incident.
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related links Posted by 702497 on October 28, 2007 at 8:41 p.m.

Post 80....she didn't say she was raped or assaulted. The lady in the truck that the girl jumped into at the store was assuming that was what happened to her. She was partially nude so the motorist gave her a shirt to cover herself in. After that the girl took off on foot to another location and was stopped by police.
related links Posted by 319401 on October 28, 2007 at 10:57 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
related links Posted by 425944 on October 28, 2007 at 11:23 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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related links Posted by 699888 on October 29, 2007 at 8:45 a.m.

Too those who complain thier darling Smith is being unfairly treated on these blogs, well the CT staff reacted to postings on these blogs..when a poster noted tha the Chief was involved..all the suddden there appeared a story with "with Smith's spin" that he actually got the investigation going by "notifying " the sheirff> took him two weeks to figure that one out..But thats his story and he is sticking to it.
related links Posted by 319401 on October 29, 2007 at 2:40 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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related links Posted by 702497 on October 29, 2007 at 5:19 p.m.

Post 86..read post 82.

Rumors are being thrown in so many directions about what happened that night. CCPD IS investigating ALL aspects of the incident. The driver that gave the young lady a shirt ASSUMED she had been raped. The story is getting twisted and both stories may not even be 100% accurate.
related links Posted by 319401 on October 29, 2007 at 5:49 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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related links Posted by 702497 on October 29, 2007 at 7:26 p.m.

It is hard to say.

Without the actual complete facts as to what exactly happened we can only assume. And we all know where assuming gets us. Anything I state is all in opinion based on the facts that the news media is producing for the public.

My personal opinion on this is they were all drinking and a big possible chance drugs could have been involved. The time that all of this occured is another factor. There is word that the boyfriend of the young lady was the other mysterious individual in the hot tub. Why would the girlfriend freak out and yell rape if her boyfriend was with her? Why would she run the way she did? I have been stone cold drunk inmy life plenty of times and have done stupid thngs but not once have I ever ran down a street partially naked.

Something had to have happened beyond our imaginations for this girl to react this way or she was high on drugs of some kind. There is no telling and I could be totally wrong on this. Like I said this is just my opinion from everything I have read.

I think you would have to agree that there is a fact that this Celis guy is a fraud and has pretty much ruined himself and future for now. When I think of a lawer, I think of someone with some level of integrity and honesty. I understand that all lawyers have to be able to weasel their way in the system in order to have a successful outcome for their client. Personally this is the only weaseling that I find acceptable. It is the other kind of weaseling I find disturbing. Backstabbiing, bribery, and black mailing is disgusting and kind of ruins the image of an attorney.

My friend is a defense attorney in The Valley area. He is new and still wet behind the ears. I told him I would hope that he would continue to lean on ethics as he gets bigger through the years of experience. He doesn't do drugs, which I hate to say I know of many attorneys that do.

All we can do is sit back and hope that the truth comes out and possibly wait to see which one of us had the right prediciton as to what happened that night.

It makes me happy to not have all the money in the world. Look where it can get you in life. Greed is a horrible thing to live by. So is living in a make believe worlds, which I am sure all of us can agree this is what Celis has done.

I have heard some wild stories but pretending to be a cop and a lawyer and fooling politicians with campaign money really takes the cake.
related links Posted by 319401 on October 29, 2007 at 10:34 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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related links Posted by 702497 on October 30, 2007 at 7:26 p.m.

See..there are two stories that are being spread. It is hard to say which one is correct. I would hope CCPD have already interviewed this young woman thoroughly.

This is one situation I would never want to get myself wrapped up in. Money changes everything.
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related links Posted by 709494 on November 6, 2007 at 10:17 p.m.

I am not from the Corpus Christi area, I am actually from Oregon. I was very shocked when I read this article and all the comments before mine. Although I have not spoken to Damon Bentley for 3 years I was a good friend when he graduated from the Coast Guard Academy and was stationed in my town. We dated off and on and kept in touch for many years after. All of the accusations of drug use are rediculouse. I cant speak for the other individuals involved but as far as Damon is concerned I can guarantee you this man was not using any type of drugs and I am sure there is more to the story than is being told. Do you people not know that Damon is still in the US Coast Guard. You may be surprised at how often these men are tested for drug use and they are not informed of when this will take place. I have never known Damon to smoke or take any drug of any type. His carreer and business are more important to him than anything else in this world. He has worked extremly hard for what he has and would never jepordize these two things in his life. I am so disappointed at how many of the comments I am reading are pure speculation. I am just very saddened that someone such as my old friend Damon can have so many false comments made about him. This is an individual who has worked harder for what he has than any other man I have met in my life. He is an inteligent man and respectful to woman in a way I have never seen before. If he was in fact in the hot tub and this woman was in fact accusing him or someone else of assault I believe there is way more to the story than he may be allowed to say or comment on.
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related links Posted by 319401 on November 12, 2007 at 11:25 p.m.

Post 92

The police report is available to the public by written request -- you'll find very interesting information about your friend Damon Bentley and what occured that evening. His girlfriend/fiancee also stated to the police more detailed information that can be found in the police report explaining why she took off in her chosen fashion. My only question is why the DA did not subpoena* Damon Bentley and his girlfriend/finacee - two crucial people INVOLVED in that infamous night. Also, why doesn't the Caller Times report more information that can be found in public records? MySA has so much info concerning this topic of discussion.

Nueces Democrats: Hegemony: Power, Culture & Ideology: Lencho Rendon: The Pimping Out Of The President & Hillary

2008-03-03T10:36:00.000-08:00

Nueces Democrats: Hegemony: Power, Culture & Ideology: Lencho Rendon: The Pimping Out Of The President & Hillary:

"It is a simple choice, vote for Joe or vote for the Solomonista."

Why flee to Mexico? are the minute Men coming to spend their money and try and hunt more Americanos?

2008-01-25T23:23:00.000-08:00

Local
Celis dismissed from lawsuit

By Denise Malan (Contact)
Originally published 06:04 p.m., January 24, 2008
Updated 06:04 p.m., January 24, 2008

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CORPUS CHRISTI — Mauricio Celis has been dismissed from a lawsuit by a former client who alleges he represented her without a law license.

Celis' attorney said the dismissal proves that the claim lacked merit. The opposing lawyer said the move was a legal maneuver to allow the claim against Celis to go forward later, because related criminal charges against Celis would pose a hurdle for now.

Celis also filed papers Wednesday seeking the return of property the state took during a Jan. 4 search of his office. The Attorney General's search warrant did not contain sufficient facts to support money laundering allegations, Celis argues in his motion. The Attorney General's office said it would withhold comment until it reviews the motion.

In the case involving the former client, local attorney Thomas J. Henry had filed a suit in October on behalf of Paloma Steele, who hired Celis' firm, CGT Law Group International. The firm negotiated a settlement in the case, and Celis signed the settlement agreement as attorney for Steele, though he later said that was a mistake. Steele sued to recover attorneys' fees in the case, naming CGT, Celis and his partners as defendants.

Criminal defendants can ask courts to abate, or stop, civil cases while criminal charges are pending. Celis, 36, was indicted on four felony criminal charges in November, and he asked the Nueces County court to abate the Steele case.

Henry said dismissing Celis from the case eliminates his standing to stop it, and allows Henry to take testimony from Celis and his partners.

"I am free today, tomorrow, for the next year to sue Mr. Celis on behalf of Ms. Steele," Henry said Thursday. "The nonsuit was nothing more than allowing my client to move forward."

Celis attorney said Henry's move showed there were no grounds for the lawsuit.

"This proves what we've been saying all along," said Lawrence Coffey, representing Celis in the Henry lawsuit. "At the end of this politically motivated witch hunt, there's nothing there. By dropping this lawsuit, Thomas J. Henry has gone a long way toward showing that his entire line of attack against Mr. Celis has ultimately no basis in reason or in the law."

Henry ran television ads starting in September alleging that Celis did not have a law license. Celis has since been sued by the Texas Attorney General's Office and the state Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, alleging he practiced law without a license. A Nueces County grand jury indicted him on charges of perjury, theft, falsely holding oneself out as a lawyer and impersonating a peace officer.

A search warrant signed by District Judge Tom Greenwell, allowing the Attorney General's search of Celis office, contained an affidavit claiming Celis was linked to a known Mexican drug runner and that the firm laundered money. Celis denies any connection to the drug trade and says the attorney general's move was politically motivated.

Celis' motion to recover documents says the warrant did not contain probable cause for the search and seizure, and that documents seized had nothing to do with the stated purpose. He also said the attorney general's office cannot use a search warrant to get documents the district attorney failed to get before Celis' indictment on criminal charges.

"A search warrant is not a post-indictment discovery tool to be used by one law enforcement agency to assist another agency in seizing the defendant's documents," the motion states.

An attorney general's spokesman said Thursday the office had not received the filing and couldn't comment.

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Post 1 January 24, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sad times bro. sad times

Post 2 January 24, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That is the first time I hear drugs mentioned. Celis made his money running cases, not drugs. IMHO It seems anytime a man gets rich quick someone always has to accuse them of "drugs". There are plenty of illegitmate ways to get rich in America still, posing as an attorney is one of them. He does seem to be guilty of that, but not drugs.

Post 3 January 24, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The bottom line is that you have no reason to trust him what so ever. I would not accuse him of drugs nor would I be the least bit suprised. Celis deserves to be punished either way.

Post 4 January 24, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

post 2

How do know what Celis has been up to when hanging out with a known drug cartel??? How do you honestly know?
Also Celis pretending to be a cop from a nearby county that is a known drug trafficking thoroughfare. Going into the passenger jet business with the known drug cartel guy. The same guy that's listed on a joint bank account as the "Vice President" of the jet company?

Why else would Mauricio Celis be having run ins with guys/strippers at our local strip clubs? Where he would actually bang the apartment door down of this stripper and threaten her?
To also wave a gun to a man in front of a strip joint? Strip clubs are notorious for illegal narcotics.

They say all you have to do is check the police records. All this is documented .....Celis' run ins with the local law enforcement. Previously he had the Nueces County Sheriff (Larry Olivarez) backing him up whenever he professed to be a "5"

Sooo ...what makes so sure he WASN'T running drugs for a profit?

The Firestone/ford debacle is drying up. Celis had to inevitably find other ways to continue making millions of dollars to keep his phony standing in the political sphere.

This guy has been caught and will now pay the price. He's lied about who he is many times. Why do you choose to believe him now? Celis says he has never had anything to do with drugs.

Let me remind you, he also said, I'm an international lawyer. I have a degree and license to practice law. I am also a Deputy Sheriff for Duval County. HE IS NONE OF THE ABOVE! He lied.

Once a liar, always a liar.
IMHO.

Post 5 January 24, 2008 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Based upon lack of integrity, one could see where TJ Henry and Celis are very much alike. Henry y Celis LLP - "Ambulance 101"

Post 6 January 24, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's just as I thought,Henry is like a jealous Hog. He saw some one
else making money on bogus law suits. Comment #1 is correct. Sad times bro. Sad times

Post 7 January 25, 2008 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't like Lawyers who advertive the way many do. I find it difficult to trust anyone in the legal profession.
I believe it should be illegal for lawyers and doctors to advertize on TV/Radio.

Post 8 January 25, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is only one case which dropped charges probably due to the lingering of the case. I am curious about the rest of the cases.

Post 9 January 25, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Practicing law without a liscense is still not cool.

Post 10 January 25, 2008 at 1:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have my own personal opinions, BUT, for the sake of argument, let's say Post 2 is right; that drugs are not involved. If MauriBoy did in fact make his money from Firestone/Ford lawsuits in Mexico and he is NOT a lawyer, can the defendants who paid millions to MauriBoy and his clients in Mexico sue to get those funds back? Does anyone here know, FOR A FACT, Mexico's laws concerning who can practice law? It seems Firestone/Ford may have reasonable cause to review that decision.

Regardless, I have to agree with Post 4; MauriBoy seems to be just another crook who thought he was too smart to get caught.

Post 11 January 25, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A little research or just a trip down memory lane to the 1980's and IRAN-CONTRA will prove who the real drug dealers are in this Untied States. The ones who fly cocaine in by the metric tons in military aircraft. Remember Oliver North, Noriega, Barry (not Bernie) Seale and their connection to our current President and his predecessor? Please, post 2 is right because nobody can compete with the Federal Govt at running drugs.

Post 12 January 25, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Post 11

Thankyou for somehow changing a local criminal into a I hate all Republicans rant.

What your basically saying is your upset with previous Republican administrations, so it's ok for Mauricio Celis to run drugs and launder the money here in our home town of Corpus Christi.

Your awesome! = {

Post 13 January 25, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thomas Henry said .."he temporarily dropped the case" so he can testify!

Celis has used this lawsuit to keep Thomas Henry out of the upcoming trial!

Paloma Steele has a year to go back and sue again to reclaim lost settlement money that went into a fake lawyers account.

It seems to me that Thomas Henry did the right thing. Now Henry can be a major player in the prosecution.

And this shows nothing of the sort. Some of you say that this goes to show they do not have strong evidence against Mauricio Celis.

That's really funny. If you have 1000 lawsuits against you and one is cleaned off the list, now you have 999 lawsuits. Sounds like Celis is going to pay the piper, one way or another.

Mauricio will end up fleeing to Mexico. You watch.

Post 14 January 25, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Lawyers, Liars it's all the same. Everyone tries to benefit off the other. It's just the way it is.

Post 15 January 25, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thomas J. Henry has proven himself to be one cagey and good lawyer in this move... He now has the trump cards, and they're not all Jokers named Celis! Criminal trials will just give him that much more evidence to take Celis to the cleaners in civil cases...

How do you sleep?

2008-01-11T02:58:00.001-08:00

Elle asks Mauricio:"Do you know any thing about hard work"?

Elle(waiting for Mauricio's response): "Say what you need to say"

Grande Commununique.........or is Sirius?Planting Sugar Kane seeds......Sunflowers

2007-12-02T22:50:00.001-08:00

Re(2): Politics 101........KC and The Sunshine Band played Corpus Christi's Elite .......
Posted on December 3, 2007 at 00:18:45 AM by d1

Dang< error report just in .....I wonder if the "sold out" luncheon held at the Solomon P. Ortiz center.

Do you think he:

A) was "given" tickets?
B)Invited by "invitation only" mail?
C) Phone/faxed tickets
D) Arranged the whole thing?
E) All of the Above?

Now instead of Kealin, put in Skip Noe, Bryan Smith, Hooks and Scott Elli~ ff.....well Rove wants to make sure who you are , for all those of you who did because, well I regret to inform you now he knows each of you all and your vitals and those of your children and your people and those you may love.

Talk about lining up for the slaughter.
Lambs for all the lions.

Brown Bag Special, anyone?

Because $43 bucks sucks the Big You know what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or was it $45 bucks?

Why reHire you when they get you for free?

KC and The Sunshine Band played Corpus Christi's Elite and they paid him for it.

Data mining and your mug for free, Kc gets paid by who?

buy you.......

Hey Judge Hayden.....just who was that "original Carpetbaggers" guy you were conducting business with in Church?

Crime and Punishment

With JA Canales you could not possibly be accused of ...........

2007-11-20T04:18:00.000-08:00

being a second class man....but yet you care ? Por Que? If some chick thinks you are "interested" then you will compensate her for her time.....but you want free chit.....I guess in your case you will forever regret what you thought was free.....I bet Tony the Tiger is way more expensive.

Too bad you were a pinche putho,culero, and if you think you are a 2nd class citizen then you would know better then any one , chi flatho......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Second-class citizen
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Second-class citizen is an informal term used to describe a person who is systematically discriminated against within a state or other political jurisdiction, despite their nominal status as a citizen or legal resident there. While not necessarily slaves, outlaws or criminals, second-class citizens have limited legal rights, civil rights and economic opportunities, and are often subject to mistreatment or neglect at the hands of their putative superiors. Instead of being protected by the law, the law disregards a second-class citizen, or it may actually be used to harass them.

Second-class citizenry is generally regarded as a violation of human rights. Typical impediments facing second-class citizens include, but are not limited to, disenfranchisement (a lack or loss of voting rights), limitations on civil or military service (not including conscription in every case), as well as restrictions on language, religion, education, freedom of movement and association, marriage, housing and property ownership.

The term is generally used as a pejorative or in the context of civil society activism and governments will typically deny the existence of a second class within the polity. As an informal term, second-class citizenship is not objectively measured; however, cases such as the American South under segregation (and apartheid in South Africa), the caste system of India and other countries, and the marginalization of religious and ethnic minorities and women in many countries worldwide, have been historically described as creating second-class citizenry.

By contrast, a resident alien or foreign national may have limited rights within a jurisdiction (such as not being able to vote, and having to register with the government), but is also given the law's protection, and is usually accepted by the local population. A naturalized citizen carries essentially the same rights and responsibilities as any other citizen (a possible exception being ineligibility for certain public offices), and is also legally protected.

Sell us accidently indicted by a "shotgun" or through strong, consistent old-fashioned reporting.?

2007-11-17T01:54:00.000-08:00

Columnists
Katharine Armstrong to Caller-Times reporter Jaime Powell: 'I trust you'
We got the quail-hunting accident story the way dedicated journalists have tracked down news for years - through strong, consistent old-fashioned reporting.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006
The next time someone argues that newspaper journalists are dinosaurs headed for extinction, I'll remind them of Vice President Dick Cheney's shooting accident on the Armstrong Ranch.

Radio stations and cable news channels didn't break that news; neither did local television news stations. You didn't see it first on national news Web sites or blogs or on the Sunday morning political talk shows.

Our own Caller-Times reporters were first with the story that Cheney had accidentally shot Austin attorney Harry Whittington during a quail hunt in Kenedy County.

We broke the national story at 1:48 p.m. Sunday with an e-mail alert and a story on our Web site Caller.com, 48 minutes before the Associated Press moved anything on the story and a full hour before CNN issued an e-mail alert.

We got the story the way dedicated journalists have tracked down news for years - through strong, consistent building of sources and good, old-fashioned reporting.

As on most weekends, we operated with a skeleton crew this past Sunday, with most staffers scheduled for work in the afternoon.

Because of the Armstrong family's long-standing professional relationship with reporter Jaime Powell, Katharine Armstrong called Powell around 8 a.m. Sunday and left voice mail messages to return the call. Powell, who was in Austin, did not immediately receive the messages.

Unable to reach Powell, Armstrong called the newsroom at about 11 a.m. and told reporter Kathryn Garcia about the shooting.

After that conversation, Armstrong called Powell again, this time reaching her on her cell phone, and also recounted the accident for her.

Driving back to Corpus Christi, Powell talked to Armstrong in detail, and Garcia reported the story fully. She confirmed the shooting with the White House, checked on Whittington's condition at the hospital and called the Kenedy County Sheriff's Office, who said at the time that they had no record of a shooting incident at the Armstrong Ranch.

Garcia contacted her editors and wrote the story, which then went through a quick editing process before being posted on Caller.com at 1:48 p.m. by New Media Manager Trent Spofford.

Once in the newsroom, Powell spoke to Armstrong again and said she wanted to talk with the vice president, whom she had met last year at the funeral of Katharine Armstrong's father, Tobin. Cheney came to the phone and briefly spoke with Powell - so far his only public comment on the matter.

Online Editor John Allen worked with the newsroom throughout the day and night Sunday, updating the story several times on Caller.com.

In Monday's paper, we provided more details, maps and photos for those readers who wanted more in-depth news. We continued to follow the story Monday on Caller.com, with news that the sheriff didn't investigate the accident until Sunday, and in today's newspaper.

The Associated Press and CNN picked up the story after us on Sunday afternoon, and news media organizations throughout the country, including The New York Times and ABC's "Good Morning America," credited the Caller-Times with breaking the story.

We fielded dozens of media calls Monday, with Powell and Garcia granting numerous radio, television and print interviews.

Meanwhile, the national press corps grilled White House press secretary Scott McClellan on Monday about why news of the shooting wasn't released by the White House or Cheney.

The vice president's main concern, McClellan said, was for Whittington's well-being. And he said that it was with the vice president's knowledge and consent that Armstrong called her hometown paper and Powell.

"You had a relationship with my father," Armstrong told Powell. "You and I had a relationship and that relationship had grown stronger after my father's death, and my family was comfortable with calling the hometown newspaper."

Maybe it's the pride in my staff talking, but I believe the White House press corps is whining just a bit because this news came first through a local daily newspaper's Web site and not following a mass press briefing thousands of miles away from the accident.

We got the story first by consistently working hard and professionally and gaining the trust of our sources. And because we did, the rest of the world got the story, too.

"We knew we needed to make it public," Armstrong told Powell. "It was a private weekend hosted by a private family, and we were comfortable calling the hometown paper and you. I trust you."

Caller-Times' employees work hard to establish that trust every day, and that, coupled with aggressive, thorough and accurate reporting, will secure our existence for decades to come.

Whether we deliver the news through a printed newspaper delivered on your lawn, or a Web site or the new technology of tomorrow, we'll still be the ones who gather the news and report it.

And if we do our job right, we'll still be the ones you trust.

Libby Averyt is vice president and editor of the Caller-Times. Phone: 886-3681; e-mail: averytl@caller.com

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"I consider him a friend, and I don't throw my friends overboard."

2007-11-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

Watts stands by besieged pal Celis

Web Posted: 11/10/2007 12:10 AM CST

John MacCormack
Express-News

CORPUS CHRISTI — Last Friday, a day after a grand jury here heard evidence against him on several potential felony charges, Mauricio Celis got a congratulatory phone call from an old friend.

"I wished him happy birthday," said Mikal Watts, a friend and political ally of Celis, and until recently a well-funded U.S. Senate hopeful.

Celis, who owns a law firm here, was celebrating his 36th birthday under legal siege. He's fighting civil and criminal allegations that he impersonated a lawyer and a peace officer, and that he stole from a client.

"I think he felt good," Watts said of Celis. "He's had two hearings against the attorney general and won them both, and a grand jury met for three hours and he was not indicted."

Linked by friendship, shared litigation and Democratic Party affairs, the two men from Corpus Christi have both been in the news lately, for very different reasons.

Celis, who does not have a law license anywhere in the United States, claims to be qualified to practice law in Mexico, but this remains under challenge.
Recent coverage
• AG sues man he says faked being a lawyer (Oct. 25, 2007)
• S.A. lawyer leaves race for Senate, citing family (Oct. 24, 2007)

The Texas attorney general's office is trying to shut down his law firm, charging deceptive trade practices. The next hearing on the matter comes Tuesday in Austin.

"He can practice law in Mexico, he is not practicing law in Texas, and he's not sharing in the fees of the firm," said Steve McConnico, Celis' lawyer.

Celis' troubles have been mounting steadily since another Corpus Christi lawyer began running TV ads in late September denouncing him as a fraud.

Then there was the early-morning episode in September in which Celis — clad only in a bathrobe and flashing a badge — tried to take a nude woman into custody outside a convenience store, according to a police report.

Watts, 40, a successful plaintiff's attorney who now lives in San Antonio, made headlines of his own two weeks ago.

On Oct. 23, with the Celis soap opera going full bore, Watts abruptly withdrew from his Senate race after raising and spending nearly $1.6 million.

His explanation that he quit to spend more time with his three children met with sarcastic disbelief by political commentators and insiders. Many speculated that Watts dropped his five-month campaign because of potential embarrassments posed by his friend.

"The general assumption in political circles is that it had to do with the Celis stuff. His family was there the whole time," said Ross Ramsey, editor of Texas Weekly, a political newsletter. "The interesting thing is how far everyone else has jumped away from Celis since these allegations came out. It makes you wonder what's so poisonous about him."

Had Watts met Republican incumbent John Cornyn in the general election, Celis could have been used to bludgeon him, said one Democratic political consultant in Austin who asked not to be named.

"I think Cornyn would have tried to play on the fears of white rural independent Texans. He'd say: 'Here's a guy in bed with a crooked South Texas politician,' which is code for 'Mexican American,'" the consultant said. "And if Celis gets arrested, you run his mug shot while saying, 'Here's Watts' best friend.'"

But Watts' former campaign manager said Celis wasn't the issue.

"Watts isn't afraid of a fight or bad press. We could have dealt with Mauricio. That wasn't the reason we dropped out of a U.S. Senate race. It was all about family," said Christian Archer, who also managed San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger's campaign.

In South Texas, where Celis cultivated a reputation as a political player and rainmaker, the coincidence of his troubles and Watts' withdrawal has fueled the rumor mill.

Among the more interesting items: Watts was said to be the godfather of Celis' eldest son Mikal Celis; Watts and Celis were said to own bars together; and Celis' wealth was said to have come from referring hundreds of cases to Watts for litigation.

Celis didn't return a call this week seeking comment. Watts, in an interview, said he had considered withdrawing more than a month earlier and released a copy of a draft of a letter dated Sept. 20.

The letter cited family issues and is virtually identical to the one Watts issued Oct. 23 when he left the race.

"I've never had more fun in my life. It was like being in trial every day. It was intoxicating," Watts said of the campaign, but he said he was not seeing enough of his children.

"I started to recognize in late August that I had a real problem at home," he said. "You only get to raise your kids once. I didn't want to give that up."

Besides, he said, he's hardly finished as a statewide candidate.

"I'm a young man. I'm 40 years old. There will be a Senate seat up in 2017, the year my youngest graduates from high school," he said.

Watts said he was surprised to learn Celis has a young son named Mikal and expressed astonishment at being mistaken for the child's godfather, saying: "I'm not even Catholic."

He acknowledged that he, Celis and others once were owners of the Havana Club, a bar in Corpus Christi, but said he sold his share years ago.

And, he said, case referrals received from Celis over the years have been few, representing "less than a drop in the ocean" of the thousands of cases his firm has accepted.

"I doubt I had a dozen cases involving Mauricio," Watts said.

Since Celis founded CGT Law Group International in late 2005, the firm has referred only two cases to him, Watts said.

"He's bright. He's generous with his money. He's a good businessman. He's knows politics, and he's very comfortable in Washington, D.C. He's also very well connected inside the Catholic Church," Watts said.

For Celis, the next rounds of struggle come next week when a Nueces County grand jury is expected to resume hearing evidence against him on several possible charges.

Also next week, a court hearing will be held in Austin over a bid by Attorney General Gregg Abbott to shut down Celis' firm over allegations he has been passing himself off as a lawyer.

"I don't know what the poor guy is going through in terms of legal issues. It's important not to judge," Watts said. "I consider him a friend, and I don't throw my friends overboard."

jmaccormack@express-news.net