This comes after Patel secured his bid in the March Democratic primary against four others vying for the seat. He’s set to face off against Republican incumbent Andy Meyers in the Nov. 5 general election.
How we got here
Patel was initially arrested June 12 after an investigation was opened by the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office in October after Meyers asked for an investigation into the identity of Facebook user “Antonio Scalywag,” who was at the center of multiple “racist” online attacks against Patel, according to the arrest affidavit.
The arrest resulted in one third-degree felony charge of online impersonation and one Class A misdemeanor charge of misinterpretation of identity, according to arrest records from the Fort Bend County Texas Department of Public Safety.
Following the initial charges, Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Public Integrity division investigators found additional Facebook accounts that Patel is alleged to have created, including Jennifer Tremaine, Jane Donnie, Paul Rosenstein and Richard Melton, according to indictment records from Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office. A profile impersonating District Judge Surrendran Pattel, who was initially assigned to Patel’s case before it was transferred, was also found.
Additionally, an email was sent to an official county email with misidentifying information with intent to harm Meyers, according to indictment records.
“The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Public Integrity division opened an investigation based upon a complaint as we routinely do,” said Wesley Wittig, second assistant district attorney for Fort Bend County, in an email. “We did not have a target, and Mr. Patel was only identified later as the investigation progressed. We investigated the facts as they were found and followed the law, culminating in the grand jury’s independent decision to authorize four felony and four misdemeanor charges.”
What it means
With the arraignment not occurring until later this month, Wittig said it’s unlikely the court proceedings will wrap up ahead of the November election.
“Only a final felony conviction precludes eligibility for office, and only then if ‘the person has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities,’” he said previously, citing Texas election code.
Texas Local Government code states a person won’t be removed from an elected position if they’re convicted of a crime after taking office if the crime was committed before being elected to the position, Wittig said.
Community Impact reached out to Patel and the Fort Bend County Democratic Party but did not receive a response before press time.
What’s next?
Patel is set to appear before the County Court at Law 4 on Sept. 13 for arraignment on the four misdemeanors and the 434th District Court on Sept. 23 for the four felony charges, according to court records.
Punishment for each third-degree felony ranges from two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, while each count of Class A misdemeanor can earn up to 365 days in county jail and/or a fine up to $4,000, Wittig said.
Other considerations include prior criminal history, which can affect if the accused is eligible for probation, including deferred adjudication.
