Billy Malaer trial postponed until Sept. 27

Former Gonzales city employee Billy Malaer’s high profile and much anticipated trial is on hold for another three weeks.

During Friday’s 2nd 25th District Court proceedings before Judge W.C. Kirkendall, Malaer’s jury trial was reset for Sept. 27.

Malaer was terminated on Aug. 8, 2011, stemming from an ongoing investigation of the business operations of the J.B. Wells Arena. The investigation documented numerous violations of the public trust and disregard for management accountability by Malaer.

Malaer was indicted in February by a Gonzales County grand jury, charged with two counts of tampering with a government document, “the government document being the time sheets of city employees who were, in fact, not working,” said 25th District Attorney Heather McMinn.

Malaer had served as director of community services for the city, which had management responsibilities over J.B. Wells Park, Independence Park, including the golf course and swimming pool, airport operations and city cemeteries.

Malaer was the second of three city employees fired during a four-month period from July to October 2011. Coincidentally, Malaer’s postponement reschedules his trial for the same date as that of Belinda Wright Walker, the first of the three city employees terminated in 2011.

Malaer’s trial was originally scheduled for April 26, then rescheduled for July 11 before being reset to Aug. 31. Malaer is represented by attorney Terry Collins.