RICHMOND, Texas (KTRK) — A former receptionist at the law firm representing Fort Bend County Judge KP George is under investigation for stealing $4,200 from his campaign bank account, according to attorney Jared Woodfill.
George hired Woodfill to fight two money laundering charges brought against him in April, which he claims stem from loans he made to his campaign.
Woodfill told Eyewitness News that his receptionist opened a sealed envelope without his knowledge and then used check numbers to pay her rent and phone bill. He said the receptionist, who only worked for his firm for a few months, has since been fired.
Houston police confirm George reported the theft to them on Oct. 2. In a motion filed by Fort Bend prosecutors Nov. 21 seeking to have Woodfill removed from the case, they say George told police that he noticed several unauthorized transactions from his campaign’s Frost bank account between the months of July and September.
No charges have been filed against the receptionist, but prosecutors cited the stolen money as grounds for disqualifying Woodfill from representing George.
In their filing, they write that “Woodfill’s interests appear directly and materially adverse to Defendant’s interests.” They go on to assert that Woodfill could potentially be criminally or civilly liable for his employee’s conduct.
“My confidence in Jared Woodfill and my entire legal team is unwavering,” George wrote in a statement Thursday. “I do not blame Jared Woodfill for the isolated actions of a desperate and disgruntled employee. There is no conflict of interest.”
SEE ALSO: New filings accuse Fort Bend County DA of misconduct in case against County Judge KP George
Attorneys Eyewitness News consulted say there might be one.
“As a lawyer, I wouldn’t – I’d not get involved in it because there’s too many snakes crawling around,” said Robert Pelton, a longtime criminal defense attorney who founded an ethics hotline for other attorneys.
Pelton said that even the appearance of a conflict could give George grounds for an appeal were he to be convicted. By raising the issue now, he said, prosecutors are likely trying to avoid having George bring it up in the future.
“There’s all sorts of issues where the man could get another trial,” said Pelton. “They just want to try this case one time. They don’t want to try it two or three times.”
In October, George’s attorney filed a motion to have District Attorney Brian Middleton removed from the case. They claim he deleted potential evidence and spoke negatively about George.
Responding to the motion, prosecutors wrote that the defense had crafted a “work of historical fiction” that was “short on the facts, and short on the law.”
Middleton’s and Woodfill’s fates could be decided at a Tuesday morning hearing.
The court previously rejected an attempt by George’s lawyers to have the judge removed and to have the case tried in a different jurisdiction.
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