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Council declines investigation into Matamoros, cites statute‑of‑limitations and court record
Summary
After a city staff summary of prior litigation, the council voted unanimously to take no action on a proposed investigation and criminal referral concerning Councilman George Matamoros, noting possible statute‑of‑limitations barriers.
The Freeport City Council on May 11 voted to take no action on a proposed investigation of Councilman George Matamoros related to testimony in litigation involving the Freeport EDC.
Mr. Johnson (speaker 23) reviewed court records and a timeline of the 2015–2019 lawsuit between the EDC and the plaintiff, explaining that the jury found the EDC liable and entered a judgment that included damages, interest and attorney fees. Johnson told the council there was a distinction between impeachment of testimony and criminal perjury, and that the criminal statutes of limitation—two years for misdemeanor perjury and three years for felony perjury—make a successful criminal referral unlikely because the matters at issue are several years old. He also said trial records did not show the kind of admitted perjury that would support a fresh criminal filing and that the case was not appealed.
After discussion, the council voted unanimously to take no action on the item.
What happens next: no further council action was authorized on the matter; the record review offered to the public was the basis for the council’s decision to decline investigation and referral.
