MAN TESTIFIES THAT OFFICERS ADMITTED THEFT

Then-Owner Of Auto Parts Store Said He Was Warned Not To 'Snitch'

John Aguirre said he once was a good friend of two police officers on trial
facing felony theft charges.

On Wednesday, Aguirre nervously testified in court that the officers
admitted to him they stole hundreds of dollars from a man one of them
pulled over.

Defense attorneys are expected to cross-examine Aguirre today.

Aguirre, 27, said officers Raul Natividad and Thomas Hudgins told him they
stole money from Enrique "Henry" Rivera just hours after the alleged theft
took place on July 14, 1999.

Natividad and Hudgins, both 33, are charged with third-degree felony theft
for allegedly stealing $5,000 from Rivera, 27, of Corpus Christi. The
officers have pleaded innocent.

Aguirre said he was owner of Texas Concepts, a business that sold auto
accessories, at the time of the incident.

He said Natividad and Hudgins were car buffs who shopped at the store
often. The three men became friends even though Aguirre had been convicted
of auto burglary in the past, he said.

Aguirre said Natividad was in the store July 13, 1999, and saw Rivera flash
a lot of cash while making a purchase.

Aguirre said he knew Rivera on a business level but did not get together
with him socially as he did with the officers.

Aguirre said Natividad later asked him how much money Rivera had and where
he lived. Aguirre, who is not charged in the case, testified that he got in
a patrol car with Natividad and Hudgins and showed them where Rivera lived.

Aguirre testified that he thought the officers were considering theft.

Hudgins, Aguirre said, was nicknamed Fingers "because he had sticky fingers."

Aguirre said the officers had money problems and that Hudgins threatened to
harm him "if you snitch us off."

Still, Aguirre said he didn't think the officers would go through with it.

Rivera, who is serving prison sentences for drug conspiracy and burglary,
testified that Natividad pulled him over that night on Lantana Street, just
off Leopard Street, and made him get in the back of the patrol car.

Rivera said he left his wallet in his car and that the wallet was empty
when Natividad brought it to him.

Two people have testified that Rivera phoned them later that night and said
police had stolen his money.

Aguirre testified that Rivera angrily phoned him the next morning.

"He said, 'Your . . . cop friends pulled me over and took my . . . money,'
" Aguirre said.

Aguirre said he talked to Natividad and Hudgins that day, and they admitted
they took the money. Natividad showed him the money, Aguirre said.

They were open about it because they thought Aguirre was "cool," Aguirre said.

Aguirre testified that the officers told him they had planned the theft
this way: Natividad would pull Rivera over, then Hudgins would take the money.

Aguirre testified that the officers said they had stolen money from drug
dealers before.