Eric Lee Tunchez, amid a probate and trust dispute, faces a temporary restraining order involving vacant Corpus Christi properties, court records show.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A temporary restraining order has been issued by Nueces County Court at Law No. 4 in connection with an ongoing trust and probate dispute involving multiple vacant properties in Corpus Christi.
The order was issued Tuesday afternoon for Eric Lee Tunchez, a former Corpus Christi City Council candidate and founder of the Corpus Christi Crónica.
3NEWS cameras were present as Tunchez arrived late to the Nueces County Courthouse for his hearing.
Tunchez said, “The court has issued a temporary restraining order which I fully comply with, while I pursue all legal remedies. This remains an ongoing probate and trust matter involving long-vacant properties in the City of Corpus Christi. I have acted in good faith to maintain the properties and I am committed to a fair resolution.”
Also present in court were several tenants who say they are hoping for a resolution, with some alleging they were scammed and taken advantage of in connection with the properties tied to the case.
Among them is Amy Becker, who claims she is the rightful owner of the properties through the trust and says the issue has been ongoing since 2023.
Becker said, “What he did is he started taking out these affidavits, renting out the properties to some of these people, taking their money. Some of them, those were their only checks. He was taking their money and not giving it to the rightful owner, which was the trust.”
Court records show the legal dispute has been ongoing since 2024.
One of the properties involved is located on Chestnut Street near Collier Park, where a fire was reported this past Sunday.