On Thursday, September 26, 2024, ABC13 reported that Fort Bend County Judge KP George had been indicted amid a criminal investigation into an alleged election scheme.
According to records, George was booked into jail that evening after a grand jury indictment. He was later released on a personal recognizance bond. George claimed that he was innocent and vowed not to resign from his position.
The indictment accuses George of using a fake Facebook account under the name “Antonio Scalywag” during the 2022 election cycle with the intent to influence the election results or harm a candidate. This allegedly occurred through posts containing racist comments targeting George.
The criminal investigation was sparked after search warrants found troubling text messages between George and Taral Patel, who was running for the Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner position. The messages indicated that Patel had created fake Facebook accounts and posted racist material to elicit sympathy for George during his reelection campaign for county judge.
Investigators discovered texts from Patel to George saying “I am posting the image now” immediately before sharing a screenshot of the offensive Facebook posts. George then requested that Patel add a message to the post stating that the acts do not represent Fort Bend County and emphasize its diversity.
If convicted, this would be an illegal act of influencing an election through deceptive means. George has maintained his innocence and refused calls from leaders in Fort Bend County to resign his position as judge.
In the aftermath, residents and local officials shared mixed reactions. Some residents did not know about the charges, while others joined leaders’ calls for George to step down. Democrat Patricia David, who previously campaigned with George, said it was a “sad day” for the community and those who trusted him.
Fellow elected officials like Commissioner Andy Meyers and Vincent Morales have also publicly stated that George should resign if found guilty of the criminal allegation. State Representative Jacey Jetton argued continuing in office after an indictment or conviction would negatively impact the county. George remains defiant in his insistence on continuing his duties as judge.
The criminal case is still ongoing, but the indictment has already created significant controversy and eroded trust in George’s leadership of Fort Bend County.
Source: ABC13
