Beverly Hills Mayor Lucyann Sanchez-Miramontez, who is running for justice of the peace, remains free on bail after her arrest over the weekend on charges of misusing city funds to buy more than $500 worth of food and of alcoholic beverages.
Beverly Hills Police Chief Kory Martin arrested Sanchez-Miramontez on Saturday for a Class B misdemeanor for abuse of official capacity after the city’s chief financial officer reported she used a Baylor Club card issued by town to buy food and drink for his personal use.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit issued by Justice of the Peace WH “Pete” Peterson, Sanchez-Miramontez used the city’s Baylor Club card for personal use at the Baylor Club, 1001 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., and again in a club with reciprocal membership privileges to Irving.
“This was reported and noted on the financial statements, ‘in Irving on Personal Business Lucy’, by the CFO,” according to the affidavit.
Martin said in the affidavit that Sanchez-Miramontez, 42, issued the city a personal check for $558.69 for “Personal Expenses – Baylor Club,” but it could not be cashed on Feb. 18 because she postdated the check to February 25.
“Upon further investigation, two purchases were found to be lawful purchases, bringing the total financial abuse to $516.69, which is a Class B misdemeanor,” the affidavit states.
Calls to Sanchez-Miramontez’s cell phone were not returned on Monday. Pro Tem Mayor Esmeralda Solorio also did not return a phone message.
Martin and City Attorney Charles Olson said the city will work with the McLennan County Attorney’s Office once the case is forwarded to prosecution.
Sanchez-Miramontez is seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed longtime Precinct 5 justice of the peace Fernando Villarreal, who is retiring. She faces Cameron Fillmore in the Democratic primary. Jessica R. Dominguez, who is running uncontested in the Republican primary, will face the winner in November.
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
