EL PASO, Texas -- Carefully hiding behind her attorney inside the courtroom Friday, Eastside city Rep. Rachel Quintana did everything she could to avoid our camera, including slipping out through a back exit off limits to the media. In a story KFOX first uncovered, the elected official is accused of forging a letter from a former boss to get a discount on an airline ticket. Quintana's lawyer -- the third she's had since the investigation began -- argued she's being singled out by the District Attorney's Office because of her position on City Council.

"They're going to find it is a violation of the United States Constitution to single someone out for prosecution, because they are an elected official," Quintana's attorney, Stephen Peters, said.

Lawyers for the state said Quintana's actions and not her position are why she's charged with the class A misdemeanor. Friday, the D.A.'s office asked the visiting judge to deny her request to take part in a pre-trial diversion program -- a type of plea bargain which would keep her from admitting guilt or going to trial. The judge sided with the D.A's office.

"She's plead not guilty, and we're going to go to trial and we expect to be acquitted. So the fact that she might be willing to enter a pre-trial diversion program doesn't mean that she's admitting she's guilty," Peters said.

KFOX spoke with Quintana's constituents about these latest developments.

"I just think from the very beginning she should have said the truth. If she did something wrong she should have admitted it," East El Paso resident Martha Villanueva said.