If any mayordomo of any community ditch or acequia, after having undertaken to serve as such, shall wilfully neglect or refuse to perform any of the duties of his office, or conduct himself with impropriety or injustice in his office as mayordomo or take any bribe in money, property or otherwise as inducement to act improperly, he shall, upon conviction before any justice of the peace [magistrate court] within the county where such offense is committed, be punished by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court or jury trying the case.