Former businessman Frank Apodaca appealing his guilty verdict

One of the ringleaders of El Paso’s public corruption case didn’t wait long to appeal his own guilty plea.

Former Access Healthsource CEO Frank Apodaca hasn’t even reported to prison yet and he says he’s maintained his innocence all along.

A court filing states his former legal team talked him into pleading guilty.

His new lawyer also says the old one never told him he was also representing former City Rep. Larry Medina in the case.

The filing alleges Apodaca is being made to pay Medina’s and two other co-conspirators’ share of restitution.

An affidavit filed by Apodaca’s wife, Anita, states she helped the lawyers pressure Apodaca into pleading guilty because of his health issues.

The filing also states that Apodaca instructed his previous attorneys to withdraw his guilty plea and that they disregarded his instruction.

Apodaca also says he challenged the $7 million loss number by the EPISD, YISD, SISD and El Paso County, saying he presented clear evidence to the contrary and instructed his attorneys to challenge the number, but they disregarded him.

Apodaca’s plea agreement explicitly waives his right to appeal except for prosecutorial misconduct or inadequate legal representation.

He’s due to report to prison next week.