D.A. RENKEN COMMENTS ON HART SENTENCING

  

Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken is commenting on the overwhelming negative reaction to a probation sentence for former city Emergency Management Coordinator Webster Hart.

Renken says it was family members of the victim who requested the probation sentence.

Renken says that “Probation in this type of case is a rare exception, but it is not the rule.”

Renken say the recommendation was made after Hart underwent extensive psychological and medical evaluations.  Following the evaluations the plea bargain was only extended, “after the victim’s family requested it be considered, with very strict conditions…Hart will be on a very short leash for the next 10 years.”

Hart will have to register as a sex offender with the Department of Public Safety, must not return to Washington County except for court appearances or medical reasons, cannot have unsupervised contact with anyone under age 17, and must remain 1,000 feet away from any place “where children commonly gather”.

Hart also waived any right to an early termination of his probation.

Hart was arrested Oct. 7, 2014, after an investigation by the Brenham Police Department and Scotty’s House, a child advocacy center that serves Washington County.

Further investigation revealed no other victims and that the abuse occurred over a short period of time, which Renken said “does not excuse the crime, but was taken into consideration at the time the plea offer was made.”