CLEBURNE -- Former Johnson County Commissioner John Matthews wept Tuesday as he pleaded guilty to criminal charges including theft by a public servant, tampering with public records, failing to report outside income and abuse of power.
State District Judge John Neill sentenced Matthews to four years in prison on felony charges of theft by a public servant and improperly taking payments of at least $125,000 from a vendor. He also got five years' probation for tampering with a public record. Matthews must also pay the county $5,000 in restitution.Matthews, who was led away in handcuffs, took a plea deal instead of going through a lengthy jury trial that was set to start in September."It does not give me one bit of pleasure to do this," Johnson County District Attorney Dale Hanna said. "When you are elected to one of these positions, you've got to do what is right."Matthews declined to comment, but his attorney, Tim Evans of Fort Worth, said in a statement that this "is a sad day for Mr. Matthews, his family and Johnson County. He has accepted responsibility, and looks forward to getting this behind him and rejoining his family."Matthews was Precinct 2 commissioner for more than eight years before resigning in June 2011. He was indicted in December.The case stemmed from a five-month investigation that began with a county auditor's report finding that Matthews had used his county-issued Home Depot credit card to buy toilet paper, laundry soap and other products already on hand from other vendors.Hanna described how the questionable purchases led to a Texas Rangers investigation. That inquiry uncovered information that Matthews was receiving payments from his former college roommate, who was an agent for Gulf Energy Co.The company, which sold road-building materials, became a vendor for Precinct 2 after Matthews was elected. He was also accused of directing his office to buy over $400,000 in products from Gulf Energy in 2009 and 2010.Hanna said Matthews' bank records revealed that he had received $35,000 in cashier's checks and $90,000 in cash over two years. Some of the checks were traced to Matthews' friend. When asked about the possibility of prosecuting the friend, Hanna said the evidence against him is "marginal."Assistant District Attorney Paul Hable said the discovery of the payments dovetailed with information that Matthews did not report his outside income, as commissioners are required to do annually.Furthermore, Matthews amended finance reports after the investigation began to show that he had a consulting business, Hable said.The indictment outlined the allegations against Matthews, including that he funneled more than $300,000 in county funds to Gulf while accepting checks and cash payments from the company's agent.Besides the money from Gulf, Matthews is accused of failing to report outside income from Confab Construction, Rig Structures Llc., Hardee Landry and its agents, and Waste Facilities and its agents.Hanna did not say whether charges will be pursued against the other companies.He was also accused of using a county-issued Home Depot credit card to buy $1,500 to $20,000 in supplies over three years, including Christmas lights, pool products and paper products.Precinct 4 Commissioner Don Beeson, who sat in the courtroom in support of Matthews, said he considers him a friend and will correspond with him while he is in prison.Beeson said Matthews aided the county in many ways, such as helping to find lower insurance rates and representing the area in the Chisholm Trail Parkway project"I hope he is remembered for a few good things as well as for the mistakes. I hope people will have sympathy for his family," he said.Elizabeth Campbell,817-390-7696Twitter: @fwstliz