« The NTTA machine and meDMN - Planned Fort Worth-McKinney rail line to seek private partner »

Reeves guilty

Doug Reeves, who placed 2nd in the March GOP Primary race for Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace pleaded guilty this morning to charges of failure to file a complete and timely campaign finance report - a class C misdemeanor.

Reeves' plea came just a few minutes before he was to face trial in Judge Terry Douglas' JP Precinct 2 court in Farmersville. Reeves was sentenced to a $200 fine with 180 days deferred adjudication.

Mr. Reeves was acting as his own attorney, and had demanded a jury trial. He then subpoenaed several former candidates and elected officials, including Judge Mike Yarbrough as witnesses. After Judge Douglas refused to grant Reeves a continuance, Reeves then filed a motion to quash the complaint. Judge Douglas denied the motion to quash.

Just before the trial was to begin, Reeves accepted Assistant District Attorney Lauren Shapiro's offer of a plea bargain that included the deferred adjudication. For Collin County taxpayers, it was a very expensive Class C misdemeanor trial.

Doug Reeves is a well known Republican Party and Tea Party activist. In 2008 he ran 3rd in the primary race for County Commissioner, behind incumbent Phyllis Cole and the eventual winner, Matt Shaheen. In this year's primary, Reeves placed 2nd, knocking out Kelley Adley. However, Mr. Reeves withdrew from the run-off race after allegations of campaign finance violations, notary public violations and possible fraud in soliciting money for his charity, My Brother's Helper were published in The Collin County Observer.

Mr. Reeves still faces action by the Texas Ethics Commission for late and incomplete filings of campaign finance reports. He also is under investigation by the Texas Secretary of State for illegally notarizing his own signature on a finance report.

Bill

This entry was posted on May 20th, 2010 at 10:33:42 am and is filed under Observer Opinions, Politics, Ethics.

3 comments

Comment from: Jim Foy [Visitor] Email
Bill -- I was on the jury pool for this case this morning. When Judge Douglas told us that the case had been settled, he also said that it would have been a very interesting case had it continued. He was right -- i would have enjoyed hearing all the gory details. But I probably would not have made the final jury cut, since I just finished a campaign myself.
05/20/10 @ 21:49
Comment from: bill [Member] Email
Jim,

I was also subpoenaed, but by the State as a witness against Reeves. I had just arrived in Farmersville when I got the call that the case was settled.

You probably would have been struck if you mentioned that we are acquainted.

A trial might have been interesting, but more likely rather pathetic. I understand that Reeves wanted to use the trial as a soapbox, (maybe to declare he was being persecuted by the liberals on the internet?) but the DA objected and Reeves was overheard saying that if he couldn't talk about what he wanted, there was no point in a trial.

He'll be darn lucky if he escapes being target of a felony investigation on his charity.

Bill
05/20/10 @ 23:11
Comment from: watching [Visitor] Email
At least your investigation revealed Reeves before it was too late,the tea baggers elected David Rippel as a county judge,He was an embarrassment as a lawyer and is already worse as judge!Four years of his stup0idity and thats if we are lucky!
05/24/10 @ 21:41

Comments are closed for this post.