Fort Bend County Judge KP George was released on a PR bond, after he turned himself in to authorities yesterday after being charged with a misdemeanor. He says he is fully committed to cooperating with the legal process.
Now, according to reports, and details from search warrants, show that George may have tried to 'factory reset' his cell phone in an attempt to delete evidence.
A Fort Bend County grand jury issued the indictment yesterday. George was charged with misrepresenting his identity to influence the outcome of an election, a Class A misdemeanor offense punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
In a statement, George said, "Although I am disappointed by the charges brought against me, I am confident that when all the facts are presented, justice will prevail."
Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers responded in a statement:
"Fort Bend County is the most diverse county in the United States—known for being safe, family-friendly, and business-friendly. However, the racist messages that investigators say were manufactured by my opponent, Taral Patel, with the alleged knowledge of Judge KP George, have sown fear within our community. Seeking to create division for personal gain is reprehensible. We must stand together against these tactics and reaffirm our commitment to unity and inclusivity."
According to a report by Scott Reese Willey, George portrayed himself as "Antonio Scallywag" in a campaign communication posted on his own Facebook page with the intent to injure a candidate or influence the results of an election.
At that time, George was seeking re-election and was facing Trever Nehls in the November 2022 general election. His former chief of staff, Democrat Taral Patel, has already been indicted on four charges of online impersonation to influence an election.