Trial Begins For Mayor In Texas Over Missing Check

The outspoken mayor of a Texas border town faces trial after a $26,000 check for a city vendor was deposited into his personal account.

Opening arguments are scheduled for Tuesday in the trial of Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada. He is charged with abuse of official capacity, misapplication of fiduciary property and theft.

Ahumada says he has no idea how the check ended up in his account. The city began investigating after the vendor inquired about payment.

The 57-year-old mayor is known nationally for his vocal criticism of the border fence. Ahumada presides over a city of more than 170,000 in the southern tip of Texas across the Rio Grande from Matamoros, Mexico.