School superintendent arrested on charges of violating open-records law

By The Associated Press

02.11.03

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AUSTIN, Texas — The superintendent of the Llano Independent School District was arrested yesterday after he was indicted on charges that he violated the Texas Public Information Act, said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

A grand jury earlier returned a two-count indictment against Jack Patton, alleging he intentionally withheld public information from a county commissioner and a reporter from the Llano Buzz newspaper.

If convicted, Patton could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for each count.

"The allegations made in this particular situation are very troubling and disappointing," Abbott said. "We cannot allow public officials to make a mockery of our open-government laws."

Patton did not immediately return a telephone call from the Associated Press yesterday.

The indictment follows a three-month investigation by the attorney general's office.

The office said that in the summer and fall of 2002, a county commissioner, the Llano newspaper and local citizens sought information on how Patton and school board members were spending the district's money. Patton intentionally withheld the information, the indictment said.

The attorney general's office is prosecuting the case against Patton at the request of the Llano County district attorney.