However, the case was sealed as of roughly 3:30 p.m. Sept. 26, a Fort Bend County Clerk's Office official said on behalf of the office's legal counsel. The official declined to provide information on who sealed the case.
Due to this, the documents are no longer publicly accessible through the county's online court record system.
In a nutshell
This charge comes after the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office issued a search warrant Sept. 17 to search all of George’s communication devices.
The warrant was based on investigators' suspicions that George was aware of a false Facebook account that posted “hateful, racist and xenophobic” comments against George and others in September 2022. George is accused of suggesting wording for a post as well.
Taral Patel, George's former chief of staff and the Democratic candidate for Precinct 3 commissioner, is accused of creating a false user called “Antonio Scalywag” to attack himself, George and other opponents.
In a Sept. 20 written statement following the search warrant, George said the Texas Rangers and the DA's office said he was "considered a witness, not a target."
“On the advice of my attorney, I neither can comment nor answer any specific questions at this time,” he said in a Sept. 23 written statement.
George didn’t respond to a request for comment on the indictment as of press time.
The overview
Misrepresentation of identity is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4,000, Wesley Wittig, second assistant district attorney for Fort Bend County, said previously.
If a county officer is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving official misconduct, the Texas Local Government code authorizes immediate removal upon conviction. However, the person convicted of the crime has the right to appeal, which can result in a hold on the removal.
What's next
Patel was indicted at a Sept. 3 grand jury hearing on counts of online impersonation and misinterpretation of identity, according to arrest records from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Patel is scheduled for a discovery on Oct. 14, which is the process of legal parties exchanging information and evidence that will be presented at trial, according to the American Bar Association.
