July 24, 2018 - An immediate temporary suspension of Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Jenny Hicks was filed in the 123rd Judicial District Court, Judge Leann Rafferty presiding, and served by Constable Precinct 3 Roy Cheatwood on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 effectively removing her from office.
As a follow up to the petition filed July 12, 2018 by Shelby County Attorney Gary Rholes to remove Jenny Hicks from office, an amended petition was filed Tuesday giving additional reasons for the immediate suspension. Hicks has served as Justice of the Peace of PCT 4 since January of 2015 after being elected to the position.
The amended petition includes portions of a Texas Rangers' Investigation Report which sites specific instances where some fines were paid in cash to the Municipal Court (of Tenaha) and not deposited. The investigation revealed deposit details against the receipt registers had a delinquency of $6,685.60 in fines unaccounted for. Specific incidents were mentioned in the report pertaining to voided citations, as well as, citations marked to have been paid by community service in the computer system when the citation was paid in cash.
According to the report, during an interview with Texas Rangers, Hicks confirmed she had been Tenaha Municipal Court Judge since 2009 until 2016. Hicks had no explanation for the high number of voided citations and denied having stolen any money from the court.
An additional amendment was a letter from Shelby County Treasurer Ann Blackwell to Attorney Rholes. Blackwell stated, "I am extremely concerned for the financial aspect with the situation in JP Precinct 4. I fear there is money for payments "floating around" unsecured and unaccounted for."
Blackwell cited Hicks' failure to report collections to the Treasurer's office by the deadline dates of the 15th and the last day of each month. She also reported Hicks has not turned in a report or collections since April 2018 and fees collected by an online payment system are sent out to the JP by check which have yet to be turned in. Blackwell advises the Post Office is collecting mail for Hicks in a box because JP Hicks is not picking it up.
Blackwell continued by mentioning no one has access to Hicks computer system and Hicks unwillingness to do her job is preventing the money collected from being distributed to the state, county, etc.
Blackwell ended her letter stating, "This type of behavior from an official elected by the citizens of her precinct is appalling. She continues to reap the benefits of an employed county official receiving a paycheck, insurance, and earning retirement. Precinct 4 deserves better."
Related articles:
Petition to Remove JP Hicks Filed
SC Justice of the Peace Under Investigation
