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Former Copperfield area MUD officials receive four-year prison terms
By VAL CLIFTON
Two former local officials who plead guilty to using municipal utility district funds to finance personal expenses received four-year prison terms Nov. 20.
Evidence developed by the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division found that ex-MUD 16 board directors Steve Strange and Robert Carlile used their district credit card and checks to purchase a combined $116,214.29.
The money, which the two never attempted to pay back, went toward items such as siding, refrigerators, water heaters, ovens and microwaves over a five-year period that began in late 2000.
“We wanted to make sure the sentence was strong because they did definitely abuse the situation,” said DA’s Public Integrity Division Prosecutor Carvana Cloud. “These were clearly items that were not going to be for the benefit of the MUD.”
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 26. They had asked for probation from 248th District Judge Joan Campbell, who assessed the prison terms. Cloud said any recoup of the stolen funds will have to be taken care of in a civil court.
MUD officials from other districts were present during trial proceedings to show support for the prosecution of the board members, Cloud said.
“The fact of the matter is that if one does it, they all look bad,” Cloud said. “And the sentence sends a clear message that this type of activity is not going to be tolerated.”
The utility district provides water, sewage and recreational services for about 1,000 homes on about 625 acres in the general area of State Highway 6 and FM 529 in northwest Harris County.
Officials were notified of the board members’ actions by homeowners in the district. In addition, HCN-affiliate ABC 13’s Wayne Dolcefino conducted an investigation and showed his findings in a news report. Cloud said both sources of information were used for the trial.
Evidence developed by the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division found that ex-MUD 16 board directors Steve Strange and Robert Carlile used their district credit card and checks to purchase a combined $116,214.29.
The money, which the two never attempted to pay back, went toward items such as siding, refrigerators, water heaters, ovens and microwaves over a five-year period that began in late 2000.
“We wanted to make sure the sentence was strong because they did definitely abuse the situation,” said DA’s Public Integrity Division Prosecutor Carvana Cloud. “These were clearly items that were not going to be for the benefit of the MUD.”
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 26. They had asked for probation from 248th District Judge Joan Campbell, who assessed the prison terms. Cloud said any recoup of the stolen funds will have to be taken care of in a civil court.
MUD officials from other districts were present during trial proceedings to show support for the prosecution of the board members, Cloud said.
“The fact of the matter is that if one does it, they all look bad,” Cloud said. “And the sentence sends a clear message that this type of activity is not going to be tolerated.”
The utility district provides water, sewage and recreational services for about 1,000 homes on about 625 acres in the general area of State Highway 6 and FM 529 in northwest Harris County.
Officials were notified of the board members’ actions by homeowners in the district. In addition, HCN-affiliate ABC 13’s Wayne Dolcefino conducted an investigation and showed his findings in a news report. Cloud said both sources of information were used for the trial.
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