BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS (AP) -- Prosecutors say the Brownsville mayor deposited a $26,000 check intended for a vendor in his own bank account, spent more than $5,000 over three weeks and tried to discredit the investigation once it came to light.
But Mayor Pat Ahumada's attorney said in the opening statement of a trial Tuesday that it was "an innocent mistake" and the mayor would never intentionally deposit a check made out to someone else in his account.
The attorney said Ahumada asked his bank to return the money to the city and to investigate who deposited the check.
Ahumada is charged with abuse of official capacity, misapplication of fiduciary property and theft.
Brownsville is on the southern tip of Texas, about 550 miles from Dallas.
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