SAN ANTONIO – The trial of a former Bexar County sheriff's department narcotics officer accused of forging documents and taking money intended for confidential informants began Tuesday.
"The defendant is using the confidential informant fund like he would his ATM machine," said prosecutor James Ishimoto during opening arguments in the trial of Anthony Alvarado. "Every time he needed cash he would turn in a voucher form and all of a sudden he gets cash back."
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Alvarado's attorney, Mike McCrum, suggested that his client – who was fired following an internal investigation – was what he called an over-the-top officer who was resented by some of his colleagues.
"He loved catching drug dealers doing what they were doing - arresting them and seizing their drugs," McCrum said. "This is what we want our drug officers to do."
If he is convicted, Alvarado is facing a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Testimony will continue Wednesday in Judge Lori Valenzuela's 437th District Court.
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