A former Fort Bend County deputy constable whose office covers parts of Missouri City and Stafford faces felony theft and records-tampering charges after a grand jury indictment, ABC13 first reported.
Eric Lister served as a lieutenant in the constable's office until late September. He was arrested Sept. 29, and state law enforcement licensing records show his employment ended Sept. 30.
According to the indictments, Lister is accused of stealing more than $2,500 from the constable's office and writing warnings for traffic stops he never made. Court records list March 15 as the date of both alleged offenses.
No plea has been entered. Lister has not been convicted.
That March 15 date fell just days after Lister placed fourth in the five-candidate Democratic primary for Fort Bend County treasurer on March 3, ABC13 reported. According to his campaign website, he ran on a platform of fiscal integrity.
The constable's office said in a statement that Lister was placed on administrative leave as soon as concerns about his conduct were identified. His employment has since been terminated, the office said. The matter is now with the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office for independent review.
The office declined further comment because the case is active.
The Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office has operated a Public Integrity Division since 2019 to investigate alleged criminal wrongdoing by government officials, according to Style Magazine. It is not clear whether that division handled Lister's case.
The constable's office that employed Lister covers northwestern Fort Bend County, including areas of Sugar Land, Stafford and Missouri City, according to Community Impact.
ABC13 reported that Lister's attorney did not respond to a request for comment and that no one answered when the station visited Lister's listed address.
Lister was released on a $15,000 bond and ordered to surrender his passport, according to court records. He is due in court Nov. 9.
