Piper Pleads Guilty to Witness Tampering, LIVINGSTON, September 16, 2019 - Polk County Precinct 4 Constable Dana G. “Bubba” Piper entered a “guilty” plea today, Monday, September 16, 2019, to the Third Degree Felony offense of Witness Tampering and received a ten year deferred adjudication probation sentence by visiting District Judge Joe Ned Dean in the 411th District Court of Polk County. In a plea agreement, Piper also resigned his position as Precinct 4 Constable effective immediately and executed a permanent surrender of his Texas Peace Officer’s license. Other terms of the agreement included payment of a fine in the amount of $3444 and restitution to Polk County in the amount of $3400. Piper’s guilty plea stemmed from a Texas Rangers investigation earlier this year which was requested by Polk County District Attorney Lee Hon after county auditors observed unusual and excessive activity on Piper’s county issued fuel credit card. During the investigation, it was determined that Piper had allowed family members and friends to use the credit card for their own benefit. In addition, Rangers determined that Piper had improperly attempted to influence the testimony of a key witness during the course of the investigation. Additional terms of the community supervision order issued by Dean include a requirement that Piper submit to a drug and alcohol abuse evaluation and a psychological evaluation within sixty days. Piper is also precluded from possessing a firearm during the term of community supervision. Although a hearing was scheduled for today on a civil lawsuit filed by the District Attorney’s Office against Piper seeking his immediate suspension and removal from office, prior to commencing the hearing, Hon and attorneys for Piper announced to the court that an agreement had been reached on both the civil trial as well as felony indictments recently returned against Piper by a Polk County Grand Jury. The decision as to whether to appoint an interim constable to fill Piper’s unexpired term will be made by the Polk County Commissioners Court.
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