‘I don’t even know how to write a check’: Candidate stays in El Paso race despite bad checks arrest

EL PASO, Texas— Shawn Nixon says he’s been framed.

Nixon, a 21-year-old candidate running for El Paso City Council District 4, spoke to ABC-7 on Monday about his recent arrest on charges of theft of services.

Weststar Cleaning Services owner Salvador Espinoza said he was hired by
Nixon to clean his campaign office and do some minor alterations to the
property.

Espinoza said Nixon used several different types of checks but none were any good.

“We did services for six weeks but he also requested additional services --
installation of tile in his offices, installation of a door. Also he wanted
some stuff removed so we did that,” Espinosa said.

The owner of the cleaning service told ABC-7 that Nixon sent him e-checks.

When Espinoza tried to cash them, the funds were not there.

Nixon allegedly gave Espinoza other checks that also were not cashable.

According to Espinoza, Weststar Cleaning Services quit after six weeks of
work due to the non-payment.

When the funds were not received after multiple collection attempts
Espinoza filed a police report and told Nixon's campaign manager, "OK look, tell Shawn if I don’t hear from him, I’m going to the police.”

Shaun Nixon responded by telling ABC-7: “I don't know nothing about those checks. I’m 21-years old and I don't know how to write a check. I don't even know nothing about checks. My campaign was basically run off of debit cards and cash. I never issued out any checks to nobody.”