Harrelson Indicted on Four Counts

LIBERTY, March 13, 2003 – In a press release by District Attorney Mike Little we now know the criminal Grand Jury has handed down Criminal Indictments against embattled County Treasurer Janet Harelson.

Little states, “On March 12, 2003, the Liberty County Grand Jury handed down four indictments against Janet Harrelson. The four indictments were the result of a grand jury investigation spanning over two months which was conducted by the Grand Jury, Texas Rangers and the Liberty County District Attorney’s Office.

During the investigation, twenty-one witnesses appeared before the Grand Jury, including Janet Harrelson.

The four indictments handed down against Harrelson are as follows:

Tampering With Governmental Record - alleged to have been committed on or about November 8, 2002

Tampering With Governmental Record - alleged to have been committed on or about November 12, 2002

Abuse Of Official Capacity – alleged to have been committed on or about November 13, 2002

Forgery – alleged to have been committed on or about November 12, 2002

Each Tampering With Governmental Record charge is a state jail felony. A state jail felony is punishable by confinement in a state jail for any term not less than 180 days nor more than two years and, in addition to confinement, an individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.

The charge of Forgery as charged against Harrelson is a third degree felony. A third degree felony carries a range of punishment of not less than two years nor more than ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and in addition, a fine may be assessed up to $10,000.

The charge of Abuse Of Official Capacity as charged against Harrelson is a Class A Misdemeanor. A Class A Misdemeanor carries a range of punishment of confinement in jail of a term not to exceed one year, a fine not exceed $4,000.00, or both such fine and confinement.

According to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department, Janet Harrelson turned herself in on Thursday afternoon, posted bond and was released on charges steaming from the Grand Jury who handed down criminal indictments today. The total bond amount on all four charges was $11,500 set by Judge Rusty Height.

See Special Reports

How to Get Out of the Pen

How to Get Out of the Pen - Part II

Harrelson Removed from Office Pending Outcome of Trail

John Archer Response to Harrelson Indictment

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