What this is
Harris County Treasurer faces second DWI charge, raising questions about county leadership and the future of the treasurer's office.
Weeks after a grand jury declined to indict her on another criminal charge, Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt was arrested in Galveston County on Saturday for allegedly driving while intoxicated, jail records show.
Wyatt, 56, was being held on a $3,000 cash bond in Galveston County late Saturday for the DWI charge. It’s the second time Wyatt has been accused of driving while intoxicated during her tenure as the Harris County treasurer after she was arrested in 2023 for allegedly having a blood-alcohol concentration of at least .15%, nearly twice the legal limit. That charge was dismissed in August last year after Wyatt completed a pretrial diversion program, court records show.
She was arrested again in Harris County last December and accused of breaking into another person’s vehicle in a restaurant parking lot with intent to commit theft. Prosecutors said several people watched as Wyatt searched through items inside a vehicle that wasn't hers.
Wyatt had begun treatment for anemia and made certain changes to her daily nutritional intake and work habits, Downey previously told Houston Public Media.
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A Harris County grand jury declined to indict her on the burglary charge in April. Her attorney in that case, Christopher Downey, said Wyatt received a medical consultation following her arrest for cerebrovascular disease and a mini-stroke, information that he said was presented to the grand jury. It’s not clear whether Wyatt’s recent medical history factored into the grand jurors’ decision to no-bill the county treasurer.
RELATED: Grand jury declines to indict Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt on burglary charge
Wyatt also is in the throes of a shakeup in the county treasurer’s office after county commissioners in February stripped the office of a key function and voted unanimously to pursue dissolving the office, which would require voter approval.
The county treasurer, elected in 2022, is set to be on the ballot again in November after she did not have any challengers in the Democratic primary election in March. Marc Cowart won the Republican nomination for the seat.
No defense attorneys for Wyatt were listed in online Galveston County court records as of late Saturday.
Key details
- Topic: County Treasurer legal issues and office changes
- Key Person: Carla Wyatt, Harris County Treasurer since 2022
- Current Status: Second DWI charge, commissioners removing office duties
- Impact: Affects county financial management and tax dollars
- Next Step: Voters will decide office's future in November
Where it reaches
- Phone
- 14888184115
Available across Houston.
Why it matters
Harris County Treasurer faces legal troubles that affect how our tax money is managed. County leaders want to remove key duties from this office or get rid of it completely. As voters, we need to understand what's happening with our county's finances.
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