Sugar Land - Missouri City Edition | October 2024

BY KELLY SCHAFLER & AUBREY VOGEL

Judge KP George indicted after electronic device seizure

The Fort Bend County Grand Jury indicted County Judge KP George on Sept. 26 on charges of misrepresenting his identity in September 2022 with intent to injure a candidate or inuence the November 2022 election, according to Fort Bend County court records. George turned himself into the county jail the evening of Sept. 26 and was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond, said Wesley Wittig, second assistant district attorney for Fort Bend County. This charge comes after the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Oce conducted a search warrant Sept. 18 into George’s communication devices, including phones, smart watches, tablets and computers. George is suspected of working with Taral Patel—the Democratic candidate for Precinct 3 commissioner who also served as George’s former chief of sta—by “acting with intent to promote or assist the commission of misrepresentation of identity,” according to the warrant. This is classied as a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a ne of up to $4,000, Wittig said. The details The warrant was based on investigators’ suspi- cions that George was aware of a false Facebook account that posted “hateful, racist and xeno- phobic” comments against George and others in September 2022. George is accused of suggesting wording for a post as well. Patel is accused of creating a false user called “Antonio Scalywag” to attack himself, George and other opponents.

“My oce and sta will continue working tirelessly on behalf of our residents, ensuring that the county’s business moves forward without interruption. I look forward to clearing my name and continuing the important work entrusted to me by the voters.”

Fort Bend County Judge Kyle Prasad “KP” George is out on bond after he was indicted Sept. 26.

KP GEORGE, FORT BEND COUNTY JUDGE

KELLY SCHAFLERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

George was rst elected to serve as county judge in November 2018. Digging deeper Patel was indicted Sept. 3 on several counts of online impersonation and misinterpretation of identity, per arrest records. Patel is scheduled for a discovery on Oct. 14 for the felony charges, which is the process of legal parties exchanging informa- tion and evidence that will be presented at trial, according to the American Bar Association. Texas Local Government code states a person won’t be removed from an elected position if they’re convicted of a crime after taking oce if the crime was committed before being elected to the position, Wittig said. If a county ocer is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving ocial misconduct, the Texas Local Government code authorizes immedi- ate removal upon conviction if not appealed.

The warrant claims the messages were sent during George’s campaign for re-election for Fort Bend County judge in November 2022. What they’re saying The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division expanded its ongoing investigation into Patel to include George, DA’s oce ocials said in a Sept. 27 statement. “Though the investigation remains ongoing, the District Attorney’s Oce presented one Class A misdemeanor charge of misrepresentation of identity ... to the Grand Jury, who subsequently indicted Mr. George as a party to the oense for which Taral Patel was indicted,” DA’s oce ocials said a statement. In a written statement Sept. 26, George said he’s “disappointed” by the charges but “condent that when all the facts are presented, justice will pre- vail.” He also addressed calls for his resignation, saying he has “no intention of stepping down.”

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