1 1 CAUSE NO. 18-CR-83109 2 CAUSE NO. 18-CR-83110 3 4 5 6 7 CAUSE NO. 18-CR-83111 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) STATE OF TEXAS v CYNTHIA K. GONZALEZ IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW SAN PATRICIO COUNTY, TEXAS 8 9 10 11 12 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ GUILTY PLEA HEARING _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 13 14 15 On the 14th day of August, 2018, the following 16 proceedings came on to be heard in the above-entitled and 17 numbered cause before the Honorable Elizabeth Welborn, Judge 18 presiding, held in Sinton, San Patricio County, Texas. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Proceedings reported by machine shorthand by Melanie A. Morel, RPR, CSR. 2 1 A P P E A R A N C E S 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS: SBOT NO. 00791058 MR. LANCE A. KUTNICK SBOT NO. 24095373 MS. ALIXANDRIA K. MORRIS OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL P.O. BOX 12548 AUSTIN, TX 78711-2548 FOR THE DEFENDANT: SBOT NO. 00797547 MR. JOEL THOMAS POST OFFICE BOX 1142 SINTON, TX 78387-1141 3 1 AUGUST 14, 2018 2 BY THE COURT: All right. Court will call 3 Cause Number 18-CR-83110, Cause Number 18-CR-83109, and 4 Cause Number 18-CR-83111, all of which are styled the State of 5 Texas v Cynthia Gonzalez. 6 EXAMINATION BY THE COURT: 7 Q. Are you, in fact, Cynthia K. Gonzalez? 8 A. Yes, ma'am. 9 Q. Ms. Gonzalez, I show this afternoon -- or excuse me, 10 this morning, that you're represented by Mr. Thomas, and you are 11 here on three charges. 12 actions. 13 The first is -- it's all voter fraud The first is a carrier envelope action other person 14 than voter, is what the State's paperwork has alleged. 15 second State paperwork has alleged method of returned marked 16 ballot. 17 charge is assisting voter violation. 18 And the third State's paperwork has indicated the Do you understand the charges that have been brought 19 against you? 20 A. 21 22 Yes, ma'am. BY THE COURT: Would you please raise your right hand? 23 (Defendant sworn) 24 BY THE COURT: 25 The Thank you. All right, Mr. Kutnick, you're here on behalf of the State of Texas? 4 1 2 BY MR. KUTNICK: present Ms. Alix Morris, who is assisting me today. 3 BY THE COURT: 4 BY MR. KUTNICK: 5 I am, Your Honor, and may I Okay. Yes, Your Honor. I believe the defendant is here and prepared to plead guilty. 6 Should I spell out the terms of the plea agreement 7 at this time, if she doesn't -- if and when she does plead 8 guilty? 9 10 BY THE COURT: That's fine. agreement -- 11 BY MR. KUTNICK: 12 BY THE COURT: 13 Court this morning? BY MR. KUTNICK: 15 BY THE COURT: 17 18 State's prepared to recommend in regards to the charges what? BY MR. KUTNICK: 20 BY MR. KUTNICK: No fine? No fine. In 18-CR-83110, the same terms, 180 days in jail, probated for 540 days. 22 BY THE COURT: 23 BY MR. KUTNICK: 25 On 18-CR-8109, 180 days in jail, probated for 540 days. BY THE COURT: 24 Yes, Your Honor. In exchange for pleas of true, the 19 21 Yes, Your Honor. -- that you're presenting to the 14 16 So y'all have a plea With no fine? No fine. And then 18-CR-83111, one year in jail, probated for 540 days, a $500 fine. All three cases, we're also recommending an 5 1 additional condition of community supervision, that she not be 2 allowed to assist in other elections, or handle mail-in 3 ballots. 4 5 BY THE COURT: Is that constitutional as a condition of probation? 6 BY MR. THOMAS: Judge, we'll agree to that. 7 Ms. Gonzalez has no desire to ever participate in another 8 election as a volunteer ever again. 9 BY MR. KUTNICK: We believe it is legal. It's 10 rationally based on the offense committed and to prevent 11 similar offenses occurring in the future. 12 13 BY THE COURT: Now, is that part of the plea paperwork, the terms and conditions of probation? 14 BY MR. THOMAS: 15 Honor. 16 agreement. 17 judgment or not. 18 We agreed to the terms, Your I don't think it's memorialized anywhere in the plea It may be. I don't remember if it was on the BY MR. KUTNICK: It's -- it's in the judgment. 19 is something agreed to by all parties. 20 BY THE COURT: 21 22 Q. (By the Court) It's just not checked? All right, Ms. Gonzalez. It Got it. And you're prepared to move forward today? 23 A. Yes, ma'am. 24 Q. And you remember the last time you were in court? 25 A. Yes, ma'am. 6 1 Q. And you understand that as a condition of probation, 2 the Court can order you to serve 30 days confinement as a 3 condition of probation, correct? 4 A. Yes, ma'am. 5 Q. Okay. All right. I have three matters before the 6 Court. 7 18-CR-83110, and Cause Number 18-CR-83109. 8 9 I have Cause Number 18-CR-83111, Cause Number Ms. Gonzalez, in regards to each matter before the Court today, I have paperwork which indicates that you and your 10 attorney have reached an agreement with the State of Texas. Is 11 that correct? 12 A. Yes, ma'am. 13 Q. Each one of these cases on -- Cause Number 83110 has a 14 waiver of stipulations, applications, and agreements. 15 to the second page, the top signature line of that document that 16 I'm now showing you, is that your signature? 17 A. Yes, ma'am. 18 Q. I'm going to turn to Cause Number 83109. When I go Again, plea 19 paperwork having been presented to the Court, a document 20 contained -- called a waiver of stipulations, applications, and 21 agreements. 22 23 Turning to the second page, top signature line of the document I'm showing you, is that top signature yours? 24 A. Yes, ma'am. 25 Q. Turning to Cause Number 18-CR-83111, again a waiver of 7 1 stipulations, applications, and agreements. 2 signature line, is that top signature yours? Second page, top 3 A. Yes, ma'am. 4 Q. At the time that you signed all of these documents 5 today, did you understand that you were going to be waiving your 6 right to a jury trial? 7 8 BY MR. THOMAS: to a jury trial? That you're giving up your right Did you understand that? 9 A. Yes, ma'am. 10 Q. Did you understand you're waiving your right to a jury 11 trial? 12 A. Yes. 13 Q. Did you understand that all of the information 14 attached to the back of the waiver of stipulations, 15 applications, and agreements today would be taken as true and 16 correct, and that I would use it as evidence against you in 17 regards to this matter? 18 A. Yes, ma'am. 19 Q. How far did you get in school? 20 A. Eighth grade. 21 Q. Do you read, write, and understand the English 22 language? 23 A. I don't read too much. 24 Q. You don't read too much? 25 A. Huh-uh (Indicating a negative response). 8 1 2 Q. Your signature is affixed to these documents. Did you review all of it with your attorney? 3 A. Yes, ma'am. 4 Q. Did y'all go paragraph by paragraph, line by line? 5 A. Yes, ma'am. 6 Q. Did you have any questions or concerns about the 7 documents that you were signing? 8 A. No, ma'am. 9 Q. Did you need any further assistance that you were not 10 given in regards to reading and reviewing these documents? 11 A. No, ma'am. 12 Q. In regards, then, to the charge of carrier envelope 13 action other person than voter, how do you plead? 14 A. Guilty. 15 Q. In regards to the charge or allegation of method of 16 returned marked ballot, how do you plead? 17 A. Guilty. 18 Q. In regards to the charge of assisting voter violation, 19 how do you plead? 20 A. Guilty. 21 Q. In regards to all of these matters before the Court 22 today, are you entering your pleas of guilty because you are, in 23 fact, guilty? 24 A. Yes, ma'am. 25 Q. Did anyone force you to enter those pleas? 9 1 A. No, ma'am. 2 Q. Apart from these plea bargain agreements, did anyone 3 promise you anything in exchange for your pleas? 4 A. No, ma'am. 5 Q. Have you ever been treated by a psychologist or 6 psychiatrist? 7 A. Yes, ma'am. 8 Q. When was the last time you were treated? 9 A. It's been a long time ago. 10 Q. Okay. 11 Today do you believe that your mind is working correctly? 12 A. Yes, ma'am. 13 Q. Do you have any concerns or questions about anything 14 15 that's gone on so far today? A. No, ma'am. 16 BY THE COURT: 17 in regards to your client's competency? 18 BY MR. THOMAS: I believe that she is competent, BY THE COURT: Has she been able to assist you in 19 Your Honor. 20 21 Mr. Thomas, do you have an opinion regards to a defense of this matter? 22 BY MR. THOMAS: She has. 23 BY THE COURT: All right. 24 Q. (By the Court) So Ms. Gonzalez, help the Court 25 understand. You have entered a plea of guilty to these voter 10 1 fraud charges. 2 illegally? 3 A. In your opinion or assessment, what did you do I don't think I did nothing. 4 BY MR. THOMAS: You did. 5 BY THE DEFENDANT: 6 something that I shouldn't ever do it again. Yeah, that they -- that I did 7 Q. (By the Court) 8 A. Tried helping the gentleman to go vote. 9 Q. Tried to help the gentleman to go vote. 10 Okay. We talked about it. BY THE COURT: What did you do? Mr. Kutnick, on behalf of the State 11 of Texas, what can the State prove that this defendant before 12 the Court did in regards to voter fraud? 13 BY MR. KUTNICK: The State believes we could prove 14 beyond a reasonable doubt, say if we go to trial, which is 15 scheduled next week, that she was assisting voter -- I think by 16 the last name of Castianos. 17 While assisting at his home with the mail-in 18 ballot and carrier envelope, that she failed to sign as 19 required by law her name and address, and as such committed 20 various violations of the election code. 21 prove. 22 That we feel we could I think I -- I assume the Court may have read the 23 offense reports. There's other allegations in the offense 24 report which are more serious. 25 be supported by Mr. Castianos, who is physically and mentally Those allegations would need to 11 1 incapacitated, so we can't prove any of those more serious 2 concerns that the State had originally in this case, but we -- 3 we feel beyond any doubt that we'll prove the other violations 4 I first listed. 5 BY THE COURT: Is this the same defendant that was 6 before the Court previously, and in questioning, talked about 7 how much they were paid to go out and receive the -- 8 BY MR. KUTNICK: 9 BY THE COURT: 10 I believe so. I do have -- -- ballots? BY MR. KUTNICK: I do have -- I do have evidence 11 of that sort, that she received money from a candidate that's 12 backed up from candidate office holder reports. 13 I think the offense reports indicate during an 14 interview with law enforcement she denied a payment, but she 15 may -- I think she may have admitted it before Your Honor at a 16 prior hearing. 17 BY THE COURT: That the job or the role that she 18 filled in the election was to go out, get the ballots, and 19 bring them back in? 20 21 22 23 BY MR. KUTNICK: Something to that effect, is my understanding, memory. Q. (By the Court) Does that about sum it up? what you said the first time you were here? 24 A. I believe so. 25 Q. How much were you making? Isn't that 12 1 2 3 4 A. They just gave me for gas money. Maybe like $500, $300. Q. And you were expected to go out and get how many votes? 5 A. They didn't tell me how many I needed to do. 6 Q. How many did you go out and get? 7 A. I don't remember. 8 9 BY MR. THOMAS: About? Approximately how many did you get? 10 BY THE DEFENDANT: 11 BY THE COURT: Maybe 20, 30, I believe. All right. And I'm assuming that 12 all parties before the Court want me to accept the terms of 13 this agreement? 14 BY MR. KUTNICK: 15 BY MR. THOMAS: The State does, Your Honor. We would like you to accept it. 16 We're hoping the Court will not order jail time in this case, 17 and I have argument to that, if the Court wants to hear it. 18 19 20 BY THE COURT: Okay. Let me get the plea entered, and then we'll talk about conditions of probation. All right. Ms. Gonzalez, in regards to 21 Cause Number 18-CR-83110, having received your plea of guilty, 22 I will, in fact, find you guilty. 23 I will follow the terms of the agreement that you 24 reached with the State. There will be no fine assessed. 25 However, your court costs will be assessed in the amount of 13 1 $316. You'll be ordered to pay those through the San Patricio 2 County Collections Department. 3 You will be sentenced to serve 180 days 4 confinement in jail. 5 probated for a period of 540 days. 6 Such jail time at this point will be Cause Number 18-CR-83109, having received your 7 plea, I will find you guilty. 8 there will be -- I will follow the agreement you reached with 9 the State. 10 Having found you guilty today, There will be no fine assessed. Court costs will 11 be assessed in the amount of $316. 12 through the San Patricio County Collections Department. 13 Sentencing you to serve 180 days confinement, at this time 14 suspending that jail time, placing you on a period of probation 15 for 540 months. 16 17 18 19 20 BY MR. KUTNICK: Your Honor, days or months, for the record? BY THE COURT: I'm sorry, did I say months? Days. Don't panic, 540 days. I have Cause Number 83111. 21 plea, I will find you guilty. 22 reached with the State. 23 Order that those be paid Having received your I will follow the agreement you I will assess a fine in the amount of $500, plus 24 your court costs in the amount of $361. Order that both of 25 those be paid through the San Patricio County Collections 14 1 2 Department. Sentence you to serve 365 days confinement in 3 jail, at this time suspending that jail time commitment, 4 placing you on a period of probation for 540 days. 5 All right. In each one of these matters before 6 the Court, I have followed the terms of the agreements that you 7 reached with the State. 8 has taken place without being granted permission by this Court. 9 10 11 You'll have no right to appeal what Mr. Thomas, in regards to terms and conditions of probation, you have argument, sir? BY MR. THOMAS: I do, Your Honor. Specifically, 12 to ask the Court not to impose any kind of jail sanction as a 13 term and condition of probation. 14 Ms. Gonzalez was arrested on this case, and she 15 spent one night in the county jail. 16 and the charges in district court that the State has already 17 dismissed, Ms. Gonzalez was forced to leave an apartment 18 complex she'd lived at for many years. 19 As a result of this charge She's 56 years old, Your Honor, with zero criminal 20 history, and that goes all the way down to traffic citations. 21 She's never been cited for a traffic violation. 22 first experience with the criminal justice system. 23 This is her The Court had some -- some questions that I 24 think -- concern about exactly what her role in this -- this 25 offense really was, and she admitted to investigators, without 15 1 a lawyer present, she cooperated with the State's investigation 2 that she had, in fact, sent those envelopes in, and so she had 3 committed that technical violation of failing to properly fill 4 them out. 5 6 She worked for gas money, she was a volunteer, she drove around in the community and picked up absentee ballots. 7 We can all talk about the whole absentee ballot 8 system and the way it works, and I know, Your Honor, from your 9 own experience as a candidate and at -- working for your 10 father's campaign, you have had to deal with these types of 11 issues before. 12 I understand that. I -- I wish the State would aim a little higher up 13 the chain on these cases to make their point about voter fraud 14 situation. 15 clearly not the ring leader or any type of criminal mastermind 16 in this case. Ms. Gonzalez has an eighth grade education. 17 She is on a fixed income. 18 about this. 19 to court in the first place. She's She is very concerned She's an emotional wreck because of having to come She wants this to be behind her. 20 She's agreed and the Court has already sentenced 21 her to 18 months of probation and a $500 fine, as well as the 22 court costs. 23 to meet those, but she's committed to you and to me and to 24 this -- to the State of Texas that she's going to do that. 25 She's going to take care of these obligations. That's going to be a burden for her on her income 16 1 I believe considering the nature of the offense 2 and her involvement in the offense, that those conditions 3 adequately address the severity of this offense, and are a 4 message the State is sending to political campaigns in the 5 future that there will be prosecution for violations or -- or 6 wrongdoing in this. 7 Again, I hope maybe next time they'll aim a little 8 higher up the chain as to who is responsible for these things, 9 instead of what I would say to you is the very low level 10 11 volunteer in this thing. She's sorry, very sorry, for what she's done, 12 she's going to successfully complete her probation, and I would 13 ask you, Judge, not to put her in jail on top of all of that. 14 15 16 BY THE COURT: Mr. Kutnick, on behalf of the State, why should these type of people not be going to jail? BY MR. KUTNICK: Your Honor, in general these 17 allegations are serious, I think in particular especially if we 18 could prove items in the offense report that are very -- very 19 serious and at the time, just on the allegation on the recorded 20 statements of our victim, we did charge the defendant with 21 serious felonies. 22 Unfortunately, we just can't prove those serious 23 felonies, so we are left with these, for lack of a better word, 24 lower level charges. 25 For whatever it's worth, fortunately or 17 1 unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, the charges 2 remaining are using the term Mr. Thomas used, just technical 3 charges. 4 5 BY THE COURT: Well, they might be technical charges before the Court, but we're all here, we all -- 6 BY MR. KUTNICK: 7 BY THE COURT: 8 Yeah -- no, no -- -- blatantly understand exactly what's going on in this process. 9 BY MR. KUTNICK: And -- and that is correct, and 10 at the end of the day I'm going to -- the legislature had a 11 good reason for enacting the statutes at -- directly at play 12 today, just to try to get some type of handle and control on 13 what I would call -- what we call in our office vote 14 harvesting. 15 serious in general, and in this particular case -- 16 17 18 So there is a potential whatever happened could be BY THE COURT: Well, why isn't the State going after the candidates? BY MR. KUTNICK: I could tell the Court in general 19 terms, and I believe also specifically in this case, we -- we 20 do try to get as high as we can. 21 It's -- in general terms, I think the people 22 higher up on the pyramid, that they're able -- they're able to 23 insulate themselves with various schemes and tactics. 24 25 I suspect there's probably a higher pyramid in this specific case, but unfortunately we got as high as we 18 1 could in this case, which I don't think is necessarily very 2 high. I think it's the bottom of the -- of the pyramid here. 3 BY THE COURT: So are y'all filing these actions 4 to try to stop voter fraud, or just because you have enough to 5 substantiate a ticky tacky type violation? 6 sound like the State's really committed to prosecuting and 7 doing something about voter fraud. 8 9 BY MR. KUTNICK: that assessment. Because it doesn't I would strongly disagree with If we had our victim who would have been 10 coherent and competent, we were fully prepared to go with 11 felony charges on this case. 12 Your Honor plead a -- plead another person out in 13 similar schemes, Rosita Torres Flores, and we still have a 14 pending case up in felony courts on a Robert Gonzales. 15 So we get our allegations. If we could support a 16 felony and -- we're willing to take it to trial if we can't 17 reach a justified plea on -- on any case. 18 we can to stomp out election fraud when and where we find it. 19 But what we have -- 20 BY THE COURT: 21 BY MR. KUTNICK: 22 BY THE COURT: 23 24 25 So we are doing what How do we stop it? How do we stop it? Uh-huh (Indicating an affirmative response). BY MR. KUTNICK: indict, prosecute. I mean, obviously, investigate, Obviously -- I mean there's no getting 19 1 around the fact that, I guess, a stronger sentence sends a 2 stronger message, so that -- 3 BY THE COURT: And so if a stronger sentence sends 4 a stronger message, then why, representing the State, are you 5 not asking for one? 6 BY MR. KUTNICK: Judge, just all the facts and 7 circumstances to this particular case, based on the evidence, 8 the facts that allowed the case in this individual defendant's 9 particular background, we feel what's before the Court is -- is 10 justified and appropriate. 11 I guess until you take it to a jury, I guess 12 you'll never know exactly what will happen until you go to a 13 jury. 14 My calculated educated guess is we'd pr -- most 15 likely be in the -- pretty close to the same shoes we're in 16 here with a probation recommendation from a jury, then it be 17 left to Your Honor at the end of the day, after a jury 18 recommendation of community supervision, to assess whatever 19 conditions, which the Court is probably about to do anyway. 20 BY THE COURT: So you don't think that the 21 citizens of San Patricio County, when confronted with the facts 22 of parties intentionally stealing or misappropriating votes in 23 an effort to sway an election, would not find that an offense 24 deemable of jail time? 25 BY MR. KUTNICK: I'm not sure I'd be able to 20 1 present facts of swaying an election, because of the ability -- 2 unavailability of the victim. 3 BY THE COURT: I think I've -- Isn't that exactly why voter fraud 4 takes place? 5 She wasn't -- I mean she wasn't just trying to make $500. 6 I mean they're not out there just to make money. BY MR. THOMAS: 7 money. 8 wanted her to do. 9 She wasn't trying to make any She was paid that as a -- to help her do what they BY MR. KUTNICK: Your Honor, I would try to do 10 whatever I could, through implication or otherwise in a jury. 11 Until we go -- until we go to a trial, I'm not sure how far the 12 Court would let me get in such implications. 13 I know for sure I could present to a jury she had 14 the violations of failing to sign her name and address, but 15 that in and of itself does not, in my mind, present evidence of 16 swaying an election, per se. 17 18 The law -- for good or bad, the law does allow people such as herself to go door to door and assist voters. 19 20 21 BY MR. THOMAS: with -BY MR. KUTNICK: 22 action with whatever I do. 23 lines that that -- 24 25 I think there would be a problem BY MR. THOMAS: I can't -- I can't stop that It's only when they cross certain I think the State would have a difficult time proving that was ever Ms. Gonzalez's intent to 21 1 try to sway some election as well. 2 volunteering, Your Honor. 3 out. 4 5 She thought she was She thought she was helping somebody BY THE COURT: Wasn't there quite a ruckus that was made at the voter location on that day? 6 BY MR. THOMAS: That was the gentleman that 7 Mr. Kutnick has talked about with the mental incapacity. It 8 would be our point at trial that he changed his mind because 9 the candidate was the last one -- the other candidate was the 10 last one to come and try to get his vote. 11 candidate is the one that drove him to the -- to the polling 12 place. 13 And the other So there was a lot going on besides attempts to, I 14 think, defraud anybody. 15 candidate, who happened to be the last candidate to sit down 16 and talk to this man and ask for his vote, and I believe that 17 was a long point about what -- what was actually happening. 18 I think he showed up with the other BY THE COURT: But isn't Ms. Gonzalez someone that 19 was making such the scene, demanding an apology? 20 BY MR. THOMAS: 21 22 place. She was confronted outside the I think that -BY THE COURT: Then followed people inside and 23 continued, and they had to have the cops called because there 24 was such a commotion at the time that voting was going on. 25 that not what I read? Is 22 1 2 BY MR. THOMAS: That's -- I read similar statements in the police reports. 3 BY MR. KUTNICK: 4 BY THE COURT: 5 BY MR. KUTNICK: Your Honor? Yes, sir. May I allow Ms. Morris to make a 6 brief statement? I'm a general white collar crime prosecutor. 7 She's directly in the elections unit, and has a few facts and 8 figures about general efforts our office is making across the 9 State. 10 BY THE COURT: 11 BY MS. MORRIS: Sure. Go ahead. I just think in general we have, 12 you know, 74 ongoing investigations, 35 prosecutions pending, 13 and a pipeline full, so I think in general it's just based on 14 the individual defendant and facts of the case. 15 better facts present itself, we'd love to return and do 16 different kinds of cases sort of thing. 17 18 19 And should This is just an unfortunate case where the victim is unable to assist the prosecution. BY THE COURT: All right, Ms. Gonzalez. I've 20 listened to the argument of your counsel, the prosecutor on 21 behalf of the State of Texas, and reviewed the offenses -- 22 offense report that has been provided. 23 Court will note there is substantial discovery 24 that has not been provided to the Court for review in regards 25 to the matter. 23 1 At this time, as a condition of your probation, 2 I'm going to sentence you to serve five days confinement in 3 jail. 4 5 Do you have any requests, Mr. Thomas, on how that's served? 6 BY MR. THOMAS: I'd heard the Court discuss on 7 previous cases perhaps checking in in the morning and be 8 released in the evening. 9 like that? Would the Court consider something 10 BY THE COURT: 11 BY MR. THOMAS: 12 BY THE COURT: On Saturdays? Yes. That's fine. We'll get you a -- is 13 there any specific time period in which you'd like to start 14 your jail confinement? 15 16 (Off-the-record discussion between Mr. Thomas and the defendant.) 17 18 19 BY MR. THOMAS: Let's start this Saturday, Your Honor. BY THE COURT: So that would be the 18th. 20 just have a seat real quick. 21 order, so that they're consistent and reflective. 22 Y'all We'll go find the commitment And on this, Ms. Gonzalez, I'll show that I have 23 followed the terms of the agreement, so you'll have no right to 24 appeal what has taken place here today without being granted 25 permission by the Court. 24 1 2 (Pause in proceedings. Court handled other matters before the Court.) 3 BY THE COURT: Mr. Thomas -- Ms. Gonzalez, if you 4 will go with the clerk, they're going to get your thumbprint on 5 the paperwork, get you copies of everything. 6 You have two stops to make today. First is to the 7 collections department. 8 and payment arrangement. 9 street to the probation department to get your terms and 10 Sit down with them, do a fee schedule And the second stop is across the conditions of your probation established. 11 They're going to give you commitment order 12 paperwork. 13 don't take it with you at the time that you arrive, and it's 14 10 a.m., then they won't know what to do with you. 15 Take that with you when you go to jail. If you Okay? So make sure on the Saturday that you take that 16 paperwork, the one that corresponds to the weekend that you're 17 going. Okay? 18 BY THE DEFENDANT: 19 BY THE COURT: 20 Okay. All right. Thank you, ma'am. Good luck. 21 BY THE DEFENDANT: 22 BY MR. KUTNICK: 23 BY THE COURT: Thank you. May I be excused, Your Honor? Yes, sir. 24 * * * END OF REQUESTED PROCEEDINGS ON AUGUST 14, 2018 * * * 25 * * * END OF TRANSCRIPT * * * 25 1 REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE 2 THE STATE OF TEXAS ) 3 COUNTY OF SAN PATRICIO ) 4 5 I, Melanie A. Morel, Official Court Reporter in and for the 6 San Patricio County Court at Law, State of Texas, do hereby 7 certify that the above and foregoing contains a true and correct 8 transcription of all portions of evidence and other proceedings 9 requested in the above-styled and numbered cause, all of which 10 occurred in open court or in chambers and were reported by me. 11 I further certify that this Reporter's Record of the 12 proceedings truly and correctly reflects the exhibits, if any, 13 admitted by into evidence. 14 I further certify that the total cost for the preparation of 15 this Reporter's Record is $___125.00___, and was paid/will be 16 paid by ______Samuel Levine___________. 17 18 WITNESS MY OFFICIAL HAND this the ___14th____ day of ____April_________, 2019. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 /s/Melanie A. Morel MELANIE A. MOREL Texas CSR #9433 Expiration Date: 08/31/2021 Official Court Reporter San Patricio County Court at Law San Patricio County, Texas Sinton, Texas