School board candidate arrested; probation violation alleged

Fred Mann, in handcuffs, was led by Bexar County Sheriff's deputies Wednesday following his arrest. Fred Mann, in handcuffs, was led by Bexar County Sheriff's deputies Wednesday following his arrest. Photo: Elizabeth Zavala, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Elizabeth Zavala, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close School board candidate arrested; probation violation alleged 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Fred Mann, 30, who is seeking a school board seat in the Nov. 4 election, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant issued late last week as prosecutors moved to revoke his probation on an assault case, authorities said Wednesday.

Mann, a candidate for the Edgewood Independent School District board, has been serving 10 years of deferred adjudication probation that he received in exchange for pleading guilty to attacking a woman in his family in 2010.

First Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg said the DA's office filed a motion to revoke his probation Friday after reviewing school-district-supplied evidence — including video — that showed Mann repeatedly violated a criminal trespass warning by appearing on school grounds.

Mann also will face a separate charge of criminal trespass, Herberg said. Edgewood police gave Mann the one-year trespass warning last November after he refused to remove a belt buckle emblazoned with the phrase “I like vagina” that he wore at a girls' middle school basketball game. It prohibits him from setting foot on Edgewood property.

Mann said in a recent interview that he has changed his ways and contended Edgewood officials were retaliating against him because he is an outspoken parent and willing to challenge the district.

Led in handcuffs by Bexar County sheriffs deputies Wednesday evening, he said his arrest was politically motivated, blaming it on the superintendent and the school board.

“People will see this is a circus,” he said. “None of this ever happened.”

Asked if he still would run for the office, he said, “I'm not sure,” and said he would talk to his lawyer.

If his probation is revoked, he couldn't be removed from the ballot, and if elected, couldn't be removed from office, without a separate court order, the school district's lawyer said last week.

fvara-orta@express-news.net

Staff Writer Elizabeth Zavala contributed to this report.