COFFEE CITY, Texas — A plea deal could be offered to former Coffee City Police Chief John Jay Portillo who is accused of tampering with government records.
Portillo is charged with six counts of tampering with government records for allegedly lying repeatedly on his Coffee City job application by failing to disclose a driving under the influence charge out of Florida and discipline he received at two previous police agencies in Harris County.
During a pre-trial hearing Monday in the 3rd District Court, the defense announced that they have not received a plea offer yet from the state, but Portillo's defense team expects an offer to be "forthcoming," defense attorney Justin Weiner said.
Weiner also said the state or defense had no pre-trial motions to present. The next hearing will be a status conference on April 8.
In September 2023, the Coffee City Council fired Portillo and disbanded the entire department. Indictments against former officers came after the disbandment.
A KHOU 11 Investigation last year that preceded the council's decision exposed questionable practices within the force. This includes increasing the police force to 50 officers for a town of barely 250 people with over half of those cops being previously suspended, demoted, terminated, or dishonorably discharged from their past law enforcement jobs.
Four other former officers are also facing tampering with government records charges. Jerrod Sieck and Christopher Witzel had their pre-trial hearing Monday afternoon. Lonnie Hicks was set to have an arraignment Monday. Former Coffee City Mayor Frank Serrato, who was a reserve police officer, does not have an upcoming court date, according to judicial records.