FORMER WASHINGTON CO. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH THEFT
A former employee in the Washington County Attorney’s Office was booked into jail last week on accusations of stealing from a county pre-trial diversion program.
(Washington Co. Jail)
40-year-old Clara Jean-Marie Carroll was indicted on October 14th in 21st District Court for Theft of Property $2,500 - $30,000 Enhanced, a third degree felony. According to Washington County District Attorney Derek Estep, Carroll turned herself in on November 4th. Online jail records indicate she has bonded out.
Washington County Attorney Renee Mueller said Carroll, who was formerly a deputy clerk in the county attorney’s office, is accused of stealing money paid by enrollees into a pre-trial diversion program, which allows defendants like first-time drug offenders to avoid conviction. The money taken, Mueller said, “was not any money from tax payer generated funds that is allotted to the County Attorney’s Office.”
According to Estep, between $12,000 and $15,000 was documented as stolen. Information from Washington County Human Resources shows Carroll was employed with the county from August 8, 2016 through July 18, 2023.
Individuals who apply for and are placed into the pre-trial diversion program pay a one-time $500 fee, report monthly to a pre-trial diversion officer in the county attorney’s office, take a drug offender education class, are subject to random urinalysis and perform 50 hours of community service in Washington County.
The indictment reads that Carroll, “from on or about January 1, 2019 through July 31, 2023, and before the presentment of this indictment, in said County and State, did then and there unlawfully appropriate property, namely US Currency, pursuant to one scheme or continuing course of conduct, and the aggregate value of the property obtained was $2,500 or more but less than $30,000, from the owner thereof, Washington County, with intent to deprive the owner of the property, and the defendant was a public servant, namely a clerk for the Washington County Attorney’s Office, and the property appropriated came into her custody, possession or control by virtue of her status as such a public servant.”
KWHI learned of the investigation when it began several years ago, but the county attorney’s office and the Texas Rangers requested that we not report it at the time, because it might hinder the active investigation.