Mark Gonzalez resigns as Nueces County District Attorney

KRIS 6 News
By: Taylor Alanis , Rachel Denny Clow
Posted at 8:54 AM, Sep 05, 2023
 
and last updated 7:42 AM, Sep 05, 2023CORPUS CHRISTI — Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez has resigned, telling staff he intends to run for US Senate.

In December, Gonzalez was set to go to trial in a case seeking his removal from office.

That civil suit, filed by conservative group leader Colby Wiltse, asked that Gonzalez be removed from office on the basis of incompetency, official misconduct and failure to give bond.

Wiltse claimed Gonzalez mishandled several high-profile cases.

As 6 Investigates previously reported, Nueces County First Assistant District Attorney, Angelica Hernandez allowed Breanna Wood's mother, Fallon Wood, to access discovery in the pending capital murder cases of Joseph Tejeda and Sandra Vasquez.

Killed in 2016, seven people were charged in connection with her death.

Following this KRIS 6 News report, criminal defense attorneys filed motions to dismiss both cases.

Those cases were not dismissed, however in a ruling by Visiting Judge Manuel J. Banales he wrote, "The Court finds that, although there was credible evidence of gross incompetence, negligence and/or carelessness on the part of the Nueces County District Attorney's Office in the prosecution and investigation of these cases, such misconduct does not rise to the level requiring the dismissal of the capital murder indictments."

Tejeda pleaded guilty to Breanna Wood's murder last month.

In the cases of Breanna Wood and several cases in which a physician is accused of sexually assaulting patients, the petition alleges Gonzalez has "failed to enact policies for the handling or accountability of evidence in high profile cases often leading to significant delay in the administration of justice."

The petition also claimed the DA's office had failed to pursue indictments "in support of motions to revoke probation.

In June of 2022, 6 Investigates reported on cases in which charges had been abandoned, including the case of Jason Edward Lara, who was charged in the capital murder of two women at the Windrush apartment complex.

Last month, Lara pleaded guilty to these killings.

In February, cases of alleged sexual assault by an OB-GYN were dismissed after the DA's office admitted it had misplaced evidence in the case.

Last year, Nueces County Community Supervision and Correction Department (CSCD) Director William Schull told KRIS 6 News their deaths could have been avoided if the DA's office had not abandoned new charges against Lara.

The petition also questioned the DA office’s dismissal of thousands of felony and misdemeanor cases.

6 Investigates reported on dismissals by the district attorney's office in August 2022 and its impact on programs designed to rehabilitate offenders.

Among other complaints, the petition alleges Gonzalez has made social media posts advertising his private business, Cruisers, from his office at the Nueces County Courthouse.

"The Defendant's use of government property, services, and his official time to transact business in furtherance of his private gain is an abuse of position," the petition states.

After several delays, the jury trial for Gonzalez was set for December 11, 2023.

Gonzalez, a Democrat, took office January 1, 2017 and was re-elected in 2021.

His latest term was set to expire December 31, 2024.