What's Up in Brownwood ?

Brown County official charged with theft maintains her innocence

By Celinda Emison / emisonc@reporternews.com
April 7, 2006

Posted 10:47 a.m. BROWNWOOD — Brown County’s tax assessor/collector was indicted and arrested Thursday and charged with theft, Texas Ranger Nick Hanna said Friday.
Linda Lewis Parker, 52, of Bangs, was arrested Thursday after a grand jury handed down an indictment in 35th District Court. Parker faces charges of theft by a public servant of more than $1,500 and less than $20,000; and for recording a false name and information as part of her duties involving registration of vehicles.
Hanna said Parker was charged with the theft of $11,733. The money was missing from accounts for vehicle registration for the Texas Department of Transportation, and for the county’s road and bridge fund.
Hanna and District Attorney Investigator Vance Hill arrested Parker at the Brown County Courthouse. She was booked into the Brown County Jail around 4:30 p.m. and released just before 5 p.m. Thursday on bonds totaling $10,000.
The charges are third-degree felonies and Parker could face two to 10 years in prison with a $10,000 fine for each charge.
It was unknown Friday morning whether Brown County officials would allow Parker to continue working, but Parker said she planned to show up for work.
Hanna said he has been conducting the investigation since March 10 and has interviewed all of the employees in the tax assessor’s office.
From her home in Bangs on Friday, Parker maintained her innocence. As of Friday, Parker had not hired an attorney.
She said she reported the missing funds Feb. 1 after balancing her books for November, December and January.
"I went straight to the auditor’s office and reported the missing funds and asked what to do," she explained.
Neither Hanna, nor Brown County Auditor Nina Cox would confirm whether Parker reported the missing money.
Parker said that in March, she took out a personal loan to reimburse the county for the missing funds.
"I just wanted the funds to be there so we could operate the office during the investigation," Parker said. "I felt like it was my responsibility to put the money back in the accounts since I am the elected official responsible for the state and the county’s money."
Hanna confirmed that Parker reimbursed the funds on March 15 and that the money is being held in an escrow account.
Parker said she and four other employees work in the tax assessors office and all of the employees had the combination to the office’s safe during the time the funds came up missing.
She said Friday she had no idea she was going to be indicted or arrested.
"I’m basically in a state of shock," she said. "I will go back to work because I am responsible for what happens in that office."
Parker, who was elected to office in 1997, has worked in the tax assessor’s office for the past 15 years. Parker ran on the Democratic ticket in 2004 and was re-elected.

source: http://www.reporternews.com/abil/nw_local/article/0,1874,ABIL_7959_4603826,00.html
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Brown County official indicted
Tax assessor/collector charged with theft of state and county transportation funds

By Celinda Emison / emisonc@reporternews.com
April 8, 2006

BROWNWOOD - Brown County's tax assessor/collector was indicted and arrested Thursday and charged with theft, Texas Ranger Nick Hanna said.
Linda Lewis Parker, 52, of Bangs, was arrested Thursday at the Brown County Courthouse after a grand jury handed down an indictment in 35th District Court. County attorney Shane Britton was preparing a petition Friday to have Parker removed from office. An interim assessor had not been named by Friday afternoon.
Parker, who was released Thursday from the Brown County Jail on bonds totaling $10,000, said Friday she was shocked by her arrest and maintains her innocence. She reported to work briefly Friday and said she plans to return Monday.
''I'm basically in a state of shock,'' she said. ''I will go back to work because I am responsible for what happens in that office.''
Parker faces third-degree felony charges of theft by a public servant of more than $1,500 and less than $20,000; and of recording a false name and information as part of her duties involving registration of vehicles.
If convicted, Parker could face two to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each charge.Hanna said Parker was charged with the theft of $11,733. The money was missing from accounts for vehicle registration for the Texas Department of Transportation, and from Brown County's road and bridge fund.
District Attorney Investigator Vance Hill said the investigation began in mid-March when a check written on the road and bridge fund account bounced.
''That discovery led to an audit that revealed numerous cash deposits that had not been made,'' Hill said.
Hill said Parker is also accused of registering a vehicle in her mother's name, showing a large down payment to ''reduce the tax paid on the vehicle.''
Parker, who has not hired an attorney, said she reported the missing funds Feb. 1 after balancing her books for November, December and January.
''I went straight to the auditor's office and reported the missing funds and asked what to do,'' she said.
Neither Hanna, Hill nor Brown County Auditor Nina Cox would confirm whether Parker reported the missing money.
Parker said that in March, she took out a personal loan to reimburse the county for the missing funds.
''I felt like it was my responsibility to put the money back in the accounts since I am the elected official responsible for the state and the county's money,'' Parker said.
Parker said she and four other employees work in the tax assessors office and all of the employees knew the combination to the office's safe during the period when the funds came up missing.
Hanna confirmed that Parker reimbursed the funds March 15. That the money is being held in an escrow account.
Linda Lewis Parker
Has worked in the Brown County tax assessor's office for 15 years.
Was first elected tax assessor/collector in 1997.
Defeated Republican Towanna Nail in the 2004 election.
source: http://reporternews.com/abil/nw_local/article/0,1874,ABIL_7959_4605571,00.html
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Saturday April 8, 2006

News
Petition readied to remove Parker

By Steve Nash — Brownwood Bulletin

A bounced check on a county account sparked an investigation that led to the indictment of Brown County Tax Assessor-Collector Linda Lewis Parker, a law enforcement official said Friday.
In other developments Friday:
Brown County Attorney Shane Britton said he was preparing a petition seeking the removal of Parker from office.
An eight-paragraph indictment for theft by a public servant, unsealed Friday in 35th District Court, contained details of the state’s case against Parker. Audits discovered nearly $12,000 in outstanding cash deposits in Parker’s office, officials have said.
Parker, 52, maintained her innocence, saying she did not steal $11,773 in county funds. “I didn’t take it. I wish I knew where it was, but I don’t,” Parker said.
Parker was arrested late Thursday afternoon after the Brown County Grand Jury returned two indictments against her. She was released on bonds totaling $10,000.
In addition to the theft indictment, Parker was charged by indictment with “false name, false information and forgery,” court documents state.
In that indictment, Parker is alleged to have provided, in October 2005, “false or incorrect information” on an application for a vehicle title on which the down payment was listed as a rebate, documents state.
Each of the indictments is a third degree felony, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, according to the state penal code.
District attorney’s investigator Vance Hill said the theft investigation “initially began when one of the accounts handled through (Parker’s office) had a returned check on it” in January.
Hill said the bounced check was on a road and bridge account and led to audits by County Auditor Nina Cox and certified public accountant Weldon Stark. The audits found that numerous cash deposits were missing, Hill said.
Parker said in an earlier interview that she determined herself that the funds were missing when she reconciled her books in early February.
“No comment on that,” Hill said.
According to the indictment, authorities allege that Parker took county funds on eight occasions in January 2006.
While Parker has said she did not take the money, she said she obtained a personal loan and offered to reimburse the county for the missing funds. Officials said the money from Parker has been placed into an escrow account pending the outcome of the investigation.
Britton said he was working Friday on a petition seeking Parker’s removal from office, but he had not completed it by Friday afternoon. The petition will be filed in 35th District Court.
Britton said he was tied up Friday, along with felony prosecutors Micheal Murray and Perry Sims, in a deposition related to the case of another official accused of wrongdoing — Precinct 1 Constable Donnie Barnum. He was indicted in November on two counts of official oppression and one count of tampering with evidence.
Barnum also faces a petition, filed by Britton, seeking his removal from office.
source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2006/04/08/news/news02.txt
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Saturday April 8, 2006

News
Tax assessor-collector hears words of support
By Steve Nash — Brownwood Bulletin

Linda Lewis Parker arrived at the courthouse Friday morning to find two sheriff’s officials waiting for her. She left about an hour later, saying she’ll be back in her office Monday and garnering the support of some backers.
As she walked to her car, two well-wishers hugged her and offered their support.
In between her arrival and departure, Parker met briefly in the courthouse with sheriff’s Lt. Ellis Johnson and deputy Wayne Coffman, then visited her office, where she met with district attorney’s investigator Vance Hill.
Parker, wearing jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, arrived at the courthouse around 10 a.m.
Before she arrived, Brown County Judge Ray West, speaking in the courthouse, said Parker had a right to go to her office and work if she chose to.
West said, however, “My preference is that, under the present circumstances, it would be best if she did not, in the immediate future, be present in the courthouse.
“The law of the state of Texas is clear that until action is taken to remove her, she is the tax collector. She is an elected official. I think it would be a distraction to her staff. They have a job to do. We don’t need the distraction.”
As West spoke, Parker, Ellis and Johnson walked into the empty commissioners courtroom. Several minutes later, Parker left the commissioners courtroom and walked toward the county tax assessor-collector’s office and entered her private office.
“They don’t want me staying,” Parker said. “I think Ray (West) has already removed me from my job.”
Parker walked into the tax assessor-collector’s office, where she met with Hill in her private office for several minutes.
“We’re just here to make sure there’s no problem,” Johnson said of his and Coffman’s presence. “It’s very emotional for everybody.”
Johnson said later that he and Coffman had not asked her to leave but had told her she could remove personal items from her office.
After Hill met with Parker, he explained the purpose of his meeting. “She just wanted some clarification on what she was charged with,” Hill said, speaking on the courthouse steps.
As Parker walked out to her car, Sheila Richardson, executive secretary and treasurer of the Brown County Democratic Party, emerged from the party headquarters across from the courthouse and hugged Parker, who ran as a Democrat.
Richardson offered words of encouragement and said Brown County Democrats support her. “Oh, heavens yes, heavens yes, 100 percent,” Richardson said when asked if Parker has their support. “Every one of us.”
Barbara Eldred, who is also active in the Brown County Democratic Party, came outside from the party headquarters and expressed support.
“It means a lot to have everybody’s support,” Parker said.
Parker said she was leaving after only a short visit because she had matters to tend to. Saying again that she’ll return to her office Monday, Parker acknowledged, “I guess it is going to be a little awkward.”
Parker said later that she won’t put in a full day’s work Monday. She said she doesn’t know how long she will be there but said, “I have some business” there.
Parker said she did not yet have a lawyer. “I hate to hire an attorney but I guess I’d better,” she said.
After Parker drove away, Richardson, Eldred and several others inside the Democratic Party headquarters said they believe Parker is innocent.
“Linda is a wonderful person, and that is not in her DNA to take anything that didn’t belong to her,” Richardson said.
“I think (the indictment is) a big mistake. If Linda Parker can go to jail, any of us can go to jail. We’re as honest as the day is long, and so is she. We don’t know everything that’s going on, but we do know who Linda is. That’s just not Linda.”

source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2006/04/08/news/news03.txt
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From the Brownwood Bulletin Archives.........

" Saturday April 8, 2006
Archives: Search Results
Enter search word(s):
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You searched for: ray west margaret woods
Displaying 1-7 of 7 result(s) found.
Officials: They didn t change, the party did
Brown County Judge Ray West said neither he nor Brown County voters have changed their political views. Both he and the county have always been conservative, and attracted to conservative Democrats such as former U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, West said...

6.0K - Dec. 18, 2005; scored 1000.0

Democrats surprised, disappointed at trio s switch to GOP
Some local Democrats expressed surprise, and in some cases anguish, that three longtime Democratic office holders have filed to run as Republicans. Of course we re hurt and disappointed, but people do what they have to do, said Sandra Blasingame, wh...

4.0K - Dec. 18, 2005; scored 631.0

Ballot choice could await county voters
Indications are, starting with the primary elections in 2006, that Brown County voters could be answering the question, Paper or electronic? That may change next week, but on Monday, after a lengthy debate, commissioners voted 3-2 to have both paper...

2.8K - Oct. 18, 2005; scored 513.0

West, Wood, Brown running in GOP primary
Three longtime Brown County public officials who have held office as Democrats are changing parties in the March 7 primary elections. Brown County Judge Ray West, County Clerk Margaret Wood and District Clerk Jan Brown filed for re-election in the Ma...

1.9K - Dec. 16, 2005; scored 470.0 "

source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/shared-content/search/index.php?search=go&o=0&q=ray+west+margaret+woods+&d1=03-25-2005&d2=04-08-2006&s=relevance&r=Subject%2CAuthor%2CContent&l=20
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Here's a post from Brownwood's COB Website.......

" BROWN COUNTY: BROWN COUNTY GENERAL

LOCAL DEMOCRAT THIEF linda lewis parker
smileyrevenge
14
96
04/08/2006 12:08:31 PM
by: Redeemed "

source: http://www.cityofbrownwood.com/active.asp
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and below is the link posted on the Brown County Republican Party Website ( I wonder if anybody over there knows who "smileyrevenge" is ? ) ......

" Unofficial City of Brownwood website
For a Community Forum with topics ranging from Household Tips to Politics! See what the local hu-bub is about! "

source: http://www.browncountytexasrepublicanparty.com/
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MLK Jr. ?