Edwin Charles Harrison: Harris County's Financial Director Indicted For Non-County Related Fraud
The job of being Harris County's financial director likely includes many requirements: Among them, we presume, is you can't be indicted for financial fraud.
Edwin Charles Harrison, 54, will find out whether that's true pretty soon. The District Attorney's office announced today he's been indicted on four counts of fraud -- not, not, not, they emphasize, involving county funds.
"The allegations do not involve any loss to Harris County," the DA's office says.
They just involve alleged financial fraud by the guy who supervises the county's finances.
A Harris County grand jury indicted Harrison on charges of making a false statement to obtain credit, tampering with a governmental record, theft, and misapplication of fiduciary property.
Three of the charges are first-degree felonies that expose Harrison up to 99 years or life in prison. The fourth is a state-jail felony that carries a punishment of up to two years in state prison, the DA's office says.
Further info was not available, but we've got messages in to the DA's office and to the county judge's office. We'll update when we hear.
Update: The DA's office isn't giving out any more information, but you can read the indictment for yourself here. It involves an elderly parent's estate.
And from the county: County Judge Ed Emmett's spokesman, Joe Stinebaker, notes the county's finances have recently been audited, but says "this will certainly trigger more oversight."
Emmett also released a prepared statement saying he believes Harrison should be canned:
Edwin Charles Harrison, 54, will find out whether that's true pretty soon. The District Attorney's office announced today he's been indicted on four counts of fraud -- not, not, not, they emphasize, involving county funds.
"The allegations do not involve any loss to Harris County," the DA's office says.
They just involve alleged financial fraud by the guy who supervises the county's finances.
A Harris County grand jury indicted Harrison on charges of making a false statement to obtain credit, tampering with a governmental record, theft, and misapplication of fiduciary property.
Three of the charges are first-degree felonies that expose Harrison up to 99 years or life in prison. The fourth is a state-jail felony that carries a punishment of up to two years in state prison, the DA's office says.
Further info was not available, but we've got messages in to the DA's office and to the county judge's office. We'll update when we hear.
Update: The DA's office isn't giving out any more information, but you can read the indictment for yourself here. It involves an elderly parent's estate.
And from the county: County Judge Ed Emmett's spokesman, Joe Stinebaker, notes the county's finances have recently been audited, but says "this will certainly trigger more oversight."
Emmett also released a prepared statement saying he believes Harrison should be canned:
I was made aware earlier this afternoon that a Harris County grand jury had indicted Edwin Harrison on four felony counts unrelated to his position as the county's director of financial services. As a general rule, I do not comment on pending litigation or criminal matters, but I do not believe we can allow Mr. Harrison to remain in his current position until these matters have been fully investigated and resolved. I have made this opinion abundantly clear to Mr. Harrison's supervisor, and I will continue to consult with members of Commissioners Court and other county officials.
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