November 15, 2007
El Paso lawyer Luis Aguilar is city Rep. Rachel Quintana's new lawyer, Aguilar confirmed today.
The move marks a turnaround from the initial flurry of accusations by Quintana and her previous lawyer, Theresa Caballero, that the charges are trumped up because of Quintana's opposition to the City Council majority and other power brokers in the city.
Aguilar said his defense will be much different.
"I just got retained on a misdemeanor forgery, I understand that there's been a lot of media interest but I'm not sure all the interest has been directed to my client," he said. "She's been arrested and charged with a criminal offense and that's what I believe my job is to do, defend her."
Caballero's defense included naming various officials -- Police Chief Richard Wiles, City Manager Joyce Wilson, El Paso Times publisher Don Flores -- as conspiring to smear Quintana.
Aguilar said of the charges against Quintana, Caballero's defense, and the ensuing publicity, "I don’t know anything about the political ramifications, and I can assure you my defense does not include personal attacks on elected officials or law enforcement in this community."
He said he could not yet address the charges specifically. Aguilar did say that he would be available soon, and most likely his client as well, to address the public through the media.
"What I would like to do is find out the facts of the case. All I know is what I read and her story and I'd like to see the state file and then of course we'd be available to answer questions of the public," he said. "My job, and again, she will make her political decisions, her and her political advisors, I am her legal counsel for a criminal charge. I'm going to do my best to separate those (political) issues, obviously it's going to be difficult at times … but this is not a political campaign here."
The charges against Quintana stemmed from an incident Oct. 25, according to the arrest warrant. [npt background]
Quintana allegedly forged a letter that would allow her to use a Fed-Ex travel voucher that gives employees free or discounted flights. Quintana previously worked for Fed-Ex, the complainant in the case.
The warrant alleges that on Oct. 25, Quintana, who was with her daughter, tried to board an 11:10 a.m. flight to Sacramanto on Southwest Airlines, using two vouchers, but was stopped after she failed to provide identification showing she was a current Fed-Ex employee.
Quintana went to the Fed-Ex offices at 1701 Hawkins, according to the warrant, which cites witness statements and a visitors log as proof that she was there.
Her former supervisor said he did not give her any letter showing she was a Fed-Ex employee, according to the warrant, which states that at 4:20 p.m. Quintana showed up at the Southwest ticket counter with a letter stating that she was a current employee, and she and her daughter were able to board a flight.
"The investigation revealed that the letter was presented by the Defendant was an altered Federal Express letter and the signature on the letter had been forged," states the warrant.