Ex-city employees begin testimony

Two of the four former mayor pro tem employees who were fired this spring, accused of giving themselves nearly $200,000 in unauthorized payraises and bonuses, testified before a grand jury yesterday — and though we don't know what happened in the grand jury session, prosecutors said the panel will consider bringing felony charges of tampering with a government record or theft by a public servant against the group. "We're trying to get this thing before a grand jury, get a fair hearing, before the end of September," assistant Harris County DA Don Smyth told the Chronicle.

According to KPRC, two of the ex-employees testified yesterday: Rosita Hernandez, who was the office manager, and Christopher Mays. The session ended before the other two, Theresa Orta and Florence Watkins, could take the stand; they'll be back on Friday along with their former boss, Carol Alvarado, who stepped down as mayor pro tem during the investigation into the scandal. Because grand jury proceedings are secret, there are no details of the testimony; all we heard is that Hernandez said her testimony went "very well."

The four ex-employees were also served with papers Wednesday related to city lawsuits to recover the raises and bonuses they received. Hernandez's lawyer, Walter A. Boyd III, said Hernandez will put up a fight on that one, telling Channel 2 that she will file a countersuit today asking for $18,000 she says she's owed in vacation and sick time. Seems that Watkins also has her mind on the money: Asked for a comment by reporters yesterday, she replied, "I don't do interviews unless I get paid." We assume that wasn't her policy when she talked to Channel 2 back in February.

KPRC reports prosecutors hope to have a grand jury decision by the end of the month.