“He paid the ultimate penalty by not being reelected for a second term,” says Defense Attorney Robert McCabe. “I believe it was a political witch hunt from the start, and after all this time, I think that they finally realized that.”
Following four long years of uncertainty, Freestone County Sheriff Don Anderson and Captain Travis Robertson have each been cleared of all charges stemming from an investigation by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Office Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) based on allegations that Anderson and Robertson submitted falsified documents to the government agency.
Just three months after taking office at the beginning of 2013, Anderson turned himself in after being notified that he had been indicted on 20 counts of “Tampering with a Governmental Record.”
Robertson was also charged with three counts of tampering.
In the State of Texas, under the Texas Occupation Code, peace officers are required to attend at least 40 hours of training every two years to maintain an active license. Standards for training and education of law enforcement are monitored by TCLEOSE.
The indictments were predicated on the allegation that deputies had not actually attended the required training courses.
The alleged offenses took place from September 12, 2011 to December 12, 2012 prior to Anderson being elected Sheriff. At that time, Anderson served as Chief Deputy Sheriff and Captain Robertson served as the department’s primary instructor.
The Freestone County Sheriff’s Office had received a satisfactory audit by TCLEOSE at their annual review, during this same time period.
After the investigation, it was determined that the case would be heard through the state funded Public Integrity Unit (PIU), headed by Travis County District Attorney, Rosemary Lehmberg. However, State funding for PIU was temporarily halted by Governor Rick Perry when DA Lehmberg was arrested and pled guilty to a DWI charge, and then refused to resign her position.
In June of 2014, Defense Attorney McCabe filed a “Motion to Dismiss Indictment” on the case, in which he indicates that the Grand Jury asked the prosecutor about what “could possibly be the motive.”
McCabe’s Motion further reads, “Since that date in time, it has turned out that there was no monetary gain to be had, and that the representation made to the Grand Jury by Travis County’s Assistant District Attorney was false, whether intentional or unintentional.”
Anderson and Robertson have maintained their innocence throughout the ordeal, even stating that they would not take a plea bargain as they were not guilty of any wrong doing at any time during their service in law enforcement.
Now that the court cases have been resolved to the defendants’ satisfaction, both Anderson and Robertson have effectively resigned their posts as of Saturday, December 3, 2016 with the Freestone County Sheriff’s Department.
“My plan is to take a brief period to relax and regroup, before possibly seeking other challenges and opportunities in the field of Law Enforcement, the field in which I have devoted 28 years of my life, says Anderson in a letter to the community. “I thank the Lord for giving me the strength to work daily on your behalf, and I thank Him for answering my prayers.”
Pictured Above Right:
SHERIFF DON ANDERSON and Chief Deputy Travis Robertson are reveling in the news that their cases have been dropped after a long four-year ordeal. The men are surely reminiscing of what could have been. Both these gentlemen handled and steered adversity to a bittersweet outcome with professionalism, grace, and style. Thank you for your service to Freestone County. Merry Christmas! (Photo by Nicole Schaefer)
