06:01 PM CST on Tuesday, March 14, 2006

From 11 News Staff Reports

Listen to Mike Zientek's 11 News report

For the second time Tuesday, investigators from the district attorney's office took documents from former Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado's office.

In their second trip, they took one box from the office.

Officials would not comment on what kind of documents were in the box.

Earlier Tuesday, a source told 11 News five or six investigators took about five filing cabinets' worth of documents from the office.

The district attorney said that other city officials, dating back years, may have misused city money.

They took out about eight boxes in all, but wouldn't say much about them.

"We did kind of see some interesting things on first blush," said DA Chuck Rosenthal.

Rosenthal said the document seizure was related to the well-publicized bonuses four now-fired employees of former mayor pro tem Carol Alvarado. They lost their jobs for giving themselves bonuses.

Rosenthal also said the probe gave his office a chance to look at something else, allegations going back several years that city officials were improperly using the mayor pro tem's budget.

"Charging things through the mayor pro tem's office as opposed to their own budgets," Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal said the seizures were the result of a phone call he received from someone he trusts.

"It was his contention that there may be documents in the file cabinet at the mayor pro tem's office that might disappear," said Rosenthal.

He said the probe could go from any official on down.

The statute of limitations allows him to only investigate city officials who served during the Lee Brown and Bill White administrations.

KHOU-TV

Houston City Hall

Councilman and acting Mayor Pro Tem Michael Berry said it was the first time since he stepped into the position that documents have been taken from the office.

Alvarado is in Washington, D.C., Tuesday on city business, but she sent a statement about the developments.

“I am encouraged at this sign that the district attorney’s office is moving forward,” Alvarado said. “I strongly believe that investigators should have access to all information they need to get their work done and complete this investigation.”

All four of the mayor pro tem office employees who received improper bonuses totaling more than $143,000 were fired: Theresa Orta, Christopher Mays, Rosita Hernandez and Florence Watkins.