HEMPSTEAD MAYOR ARRESTED FOR ABUSE OF OFFICIAL CAPACITY
(Texas Rangers)
The Mayor of Hempstead has been arrested on a charge of Abuse of Official Capacity.
Officials with the Waller County District Attorney’s Office say Mayor Michael Shayne Wolfe was booked into the Waller County Jail by Texas Rangers this (Thursday) morning.
Online jail records list the official charge as Abuse of Official Capacity between $2,500 and $30,000, which is a state jail felony. Records also show Wolfe was released this morning on $5,000 bond.
Earlier this year, Texas Rangers opened an investigation into the City of Hempstead, dealing with utility payments to the city. Investigation began after a recent audit of the city’s finances, which found inconsistencies in delinquent City of Hempstead utility accounts
Update @ 5:00 p.m.: According to an affidavit, Wolfe is accused of removing names from a list of delinquent accounts, including the name of his daughter. Wolfe’s name was also removed by a utility clerk. The unpaid accounts of Wolfe and his daughter racked up over $20,000.
Hempstead residents had until the 20th of each month to pay their utilities, lest they would be cut off. Each month, a clerk would put together a list of names whose utilities would be shut off. According to the affidavit, Wolfe admitted he would highlight names that would be exempt from losing utilities.
No information was available on if any other city officials are facing charges as a result of investigation.
hello, i am also a hempstead resident and believe that all the drama should come to an end. Over the years i have been living in the city of Hempstead i have been treated with nothing but respect. At times when i was not able to pay for lights the mayor did nothing but help. Ive seen this happen with many people not only his daughter as many say. He his a man of his word and i am forever thankful for him. Not many people come like him!
If you can pay your utilities they should be shut off. That goes in every city or town you live in no exceptions.
Hi I am a Hempstead resident an I have a disabled child and they had cut off my lights when I asked for a one day extension and they wouldn’t even do it an my daughter needed electricity to get her meds an I told the mayor that an he told me that he did not have authorization to help me
I moved from Hempstead recently after buying a home there upon retirement. I always felt that my electric bill was extremely high for my square footage on a newly constructed house. I also did like the fact that you could not compete electric providers. The kilowatt per hour rate seemed high, and was never revealed because the bill was generated by the city. I also attempted. to have solar panels installed and was rejected by the city but told there was another residence in Hempstead that had solar but upon research I never found one. I always felt that some sort of kickback was being done. Also the deposit is extremely high, payable to the city, I’ve never paid a deposit anywhere I’ve lived before.. It is my opinion that the selected non payment of late fees and bills was not the only impropriety being performed by the city of Hempstead Mmyors office and staff.