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Jury selection begins in Robstown voter fraud case

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Testimony in the trial of a Robstown elected official who is accused of voter fraud is expected to begin tomorrow

Jury selection wrapped today in San Patricio County for 47-year-old Robert Gonzalez. He’s been indicted on two counts of unlawfully divulging a vote – a felony offense.

Gonzalez is a trustee on the Robstown Utility Board.

In court today, a prosecutor with the Texas Attorney General’s Office said the state had offered Gonzalez two different plea deals. Gonzalez, who is represented by defense attorney Terry Shamsie, rejected both.

The charges are about Gonzalez’s alleged behavior in a 2016 Nueces County election for the Robstown Utility Board. Gonzalez eventually won a seat in that election during a runoff election.

If convicted, Gonzalez could face up to 10 years in prison.

Two other people, 77-year-old Rosita Flores and 57-year-old Cynthia Kay Gonzalez have pleaded guilty in similar voter fraud cases in Robstown.

Both women were sentenced to a year and a half of probation.

Flores also had to spend 10 consecutive Saturdays in jail.