Sexually charged texts between U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio) and a then-campaign aide have placed the embattled congressman under renewed scrutiny this week. Gonzales exited his reelection bid earlier in March after admitting to an affair with a staffer. Also among this week’s top stories was a legal fight over the Poteet Strawberry Festival. Here are the most-read stories:
Explicit texts put Rep. Tony Gonzales under renewed scrutiny
Newly obtained messages showed Tony Gonzales, then a candidate, repeatedly sent sexually explicit texts to his campaign political director and pressed for nude photos and sex, despite her refusals, though the relationship never became physical. The staffer said the advances made her uncomfortable, but she stayed on the campaign. She later spoke out after learning of his affair with married staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide. Gonzales ended his bid for reelection in March after GOP leaders urged him to step aside.
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Legal fight over Poteet Strawberry Festival puts event at risk
The Poteet Strawberry Festival Association suspended the Poteet Rotary Club from this week’s festival, citing an unpaid $30,000 Pepsi bill and questions over the club’s tax-exempt status. The Rotary Club filed for a federal restraining order to rejoin and claimed sole ownership of the festival name, while the association sought its own order and pointed to five federal trademarks it has held for decades. The dispute moved to federal court, where the club asked a judge to preserve the status quo and invalidate the association’s trademarks as fraudulently obtained. The clash threatened a long-running event that draws about 125,000 people and funds local charities.
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San Antonio pastor accused of yearslong abuse of family members
Police arrested Ryan Peña, 50, a senior leader at Church of Acts, on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and he was released on partial house arrest after posting a $150,000 bond. An affidavit alleged a consistent pattern of abuse against multiple female relatives, including grooming a girl beginning in childhood, choking victims until they blacked out and intercourse that continued into her teens. Investigators said the incidents occurred at several Northwest Side homes and deemed Peña a continuing threat given his access to juveniles through church roles linked to a private Christian school. Peña denied the allegations in an interview before requesting an attorney, and attempts to reach him and church officials were unsuccessful. Victims told police they confided in family over the years but did not report to authorities until recently…