Mar 1, 2007 1:15 pm US/Central
Rockwall DA Accused Of Misusing Taxpayer Money
ROCKWALL (AP) ―
The Rockwall County district attorney faces a felony charge of abuse of official capacity for allegedly diverting nearly $68,000 of taxpayer money into his personal checking account.
Investigators accuse Criminal District Attorney Galen Ray Sumrow, 57, of using the money to pay expenses such as child support, utilities and credit card bills before fully repaying the money after a year, according to a criminal complaint.
He surrendered Wednesday to Travis County authorities and posted bond, said Buck Wood, one of his attorneys. Sumrow maintains his innocence, said Wood, who hinted the charge is politically motivated.
"This is a very fuzzy situation," Wood said Thursday. "I was surprised any kind of warrant was issued."
The case will be presented to a grand jury, said Gregg Cox, director of the public integrity unit for the district attorney's office in Travis County, where the charges were filed.
"There are various mechanisms in the law for removing someone from office," Cox said. "Until something like that happens, he is still the DA and he is still in office."
According to the complaint, Sumrow told investigators the state comptroller's office made a mistake in 2003 and 2004 by making three deposits into his personal account. But authorities say in the complaint that the form authorizing the deposits was signed by "G.R. Sumrow." The form included the name of the state fund that provides money for expenses and salaries in district attorneys' offices, the complaint says.
Authorities said the Texas Rangers, FBI and Rockwall County Sheriff's Department participated in the investigation.
The case first came to light in 2004 when the county auditor noticed the money was missing, the complaint says. The county treasurer asked Sumrow about the money, and Sumrow eventually paid the money back in three payments, the complaint says.
A financial analyst hired by the FBI found that Sumrow's personal account would have run a deficit for almost a year, including a negative balance of more than $35,000 at one point, if he had not had the public money, the affidavit says.
Rockwall County Commissioner David Magness said Sumrow has been a good prosecutor.
"If there is anything to it, I'm shocked and very surprised," Magness said.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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