As Bexar County officials move forward on replacing embattled Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela, we're taking a look back at her biggest controversies since being elected in 2016.
The constable is being replaced because she triggered a state law that forces elected officials to resign from their current office upon announcing a campaign for another office if they have more than 13 months left in their current term.
Barrientes Vela said on Monday that she would seek election as Bexar County sheriff in an exclusive interview with KSAT 12. The interview happened as the FBI and Texas Rangers raided her county office and seized a county vehicle from her home on Monday.
READ MORE: Bexar County officials announce plan to replace Precinct 2 Constable Barrientes Vela
Federal authorities haven't yet said why they conducted the raid, but a look back at her time in office provides some clues.
From lawsuits over alleged sex discrimination stemming from an incident in a hot tub to her a proposed cavity search and warrantless blood draw on a teen, KSAT's Defenders have published about three dozen stories detailing incidents and subsequent fallout.
Here are some of the biggest scandals:
- June 2018: The terminations of Deputies Leonicio Moreno and Christopher De La Cerda are overturned by the Bexar County Civil Service Commission, months after they were fired amid accusations they falsified training records. Moreno testified he was set up to fail as training coordinator because Barrientes Vela forbade him from talking to the agency’s previous coordinator.
- September 2018: The Bexar County Auditor pulls a request from Barrientes Vela to have the county pay for new uniform patches for her deputies after a Defenders' investigation reveals that the phrase on the patch is historically inaccurate. Barrientes Vela claimed to be the first female to hold office. Mrs. S.M. “Indana” Meeks was the first female constable in Bexar County history.
KSAT COVERAGE OF PCT. 2:
Barrientes Vela accused of sex discrimination in latest lawsuit filed by deputy constable
Barrientes Vela, top Pct. 2 officials charged county for training, then skipped it
Delayed booking of deputy constable at center of federal lawsuit
Breakdown Booth: Dillon Collier breaks down coverage on embattled Bexar County constable
Records: Pct. 2 deputies proposed cavity search on teen, ordered warrantless blood draw
Embattled Precinct 2 constable to seek reelection
Lawsuit accuses Precinct 2 constable of trying to caress deputy in hot tub during work trip
WATCH: Precinct 2 deputies delayed booking of constable's political opponent
Deputy constables fired in training record fiasco win back jobs as blame shifts to constable
WATCH A VIDEO TIMELINE OF SOME OF THE INCIDENTS: