FORMER AUSTIN COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR ARRESTED
(Austin Co. Jail)
The former Tax Assessor-Collector for Austin County has been charged with theft.
39-year old Marcus Pena, 39, was arrested this (Tuesday) morning on a charge of first-degree felony theft by a public servant.
Pena lost his reelection bid in 2016.
County officials discovered discrepancies in the office funds when the new assessor-collector took office. District Attorney Travis Koehn notified the Texas Rangers, who led the investigation, while the Austin County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
Austin County Sheriff Jack Brandes said that Pena was booked into jail this (Tuesday) morning—his bond is set at $500,000.00.
District Attorney Travis J. Koehn requested that the Texas Attorney General’s Office handle the prosecution of the case.
Kans says in order to avoid any appearance of conflict, the matter has been turned over to the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit.