District 3 City Council candidate Eric Tunchez denies the allegations in his indictment on aggravated promotion of prostitution charges.
Tunchez instead claims the allegations were politically motivated.
It took multiple attempts to speak with Tunchez on Friday. KRIS 6 News called, sent several text messages, and even went to his home.
When he did get back to us, he agreed to a phone interview, claiming he “knew nothing.”
“I have no comment on the accusations coming out. I know nothing. I was informed that I was being charged. I deny these allegations,” Tunchez said.
He went on to blame the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office for what he calls “unfair timing” just days before the November election.
“If the allegations happened in January of 2017, why wait until Nov. 2, 2018, to bring up these charges right before the elections?,” Tunchez said.
Assistant District Attorney Matt Manning said these investigations take time.
“This grand jury that just indicted him, that was the first time that grand jury had met since we got the complete file, the remaining information in the case,” Manning said.
He went on to further dispute Tunchez’s claims of political motivation.
“Whether the person is a political candidate or a ditch digger, whoever the person is in the community, we are going to give them a fair shake,” Manning said.
Tunchez says he plans to hire an attorney soon.
Aggravated promotion of prostitution is a second degree felony. If convicted, Tunchez could face between two and 20 years in prison.
