Constable Candidate Dusty Thompson Dusts Off a Felony Indictment in His Past

A candidate for constable in Tom Green County has an old felony indictment on his public record. He was never convicted of the crime, but the charges demand an explanation as this is an office that carries the responsibility of serving, protecting and upholding the law.

Dusty Thompson, San Angelo Precinct 2 Constable candidate, gave insight on charges placed on him by Tom Green County seven years ago during the San Angelo Tea party candidates' forum held on Tuesday, Feb. 9

On Nov. 9, 2007, Thompson faced charges for taking certain wildlife resources without consent, as stated in The State of Texas vs. Dusty Thompson felony indictment.  

“That is what's beautiful about our country and our constitution; you are innocent until proven guilty,” Thompson said.

A state jail felony warrant was sent out by Judge Eddie Howard (JP, Pct. 4)  for the arrest of Thompson on the Sept. 30, 2009, according to the warrant provided by Tom Green County.

 “I was accused, accused, of shooting a white tailed deer in 2007,” Thompson said. He went on to say the indictment came through Tom Green County from Cynde Aguilar, a game warden with the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Aguilar, after being sworn by oath appearing in the Tom Green County court, had reason to believe that Thompson tried to poach a white tailed buck deer inside the XQZ Ranch located six-and-a-half miles east of Knickerbocker Rd., without the consent of land owner Bill R. Davis, according to the indictment.   

 A Tom Green County officer contacted Thompson about the arrest warrant a day after the indictment was filed, Thompson said.  After going through the court process, all the way up to scheduling a jury trial, Thompson said he was offered a Class C misdemeanor as a plea deal, which he refused.

“I will never accept something that I had nothing to do with,” Thompson said. “You bring me here on a felony, you charge me with a felony.”

After going through the court process that lasted through April 2011, Thompson’s case was dismissed by the state of Texas on April 13 of that same year.

During the time of the initial clearing of the arrest warrant in 2009, Thompson said he was arrested for the same crime again by Cynde Aguilar after returning from the Tom Green County jail. Thompson said he had just turned himself in at the jail and posted a bond for his release to await trial. He provided those present with a picture of his wrists after being re-arrested by the game warden.

Above: Dusty Thompson showed this picture to attendees at the San Angelo Tea Party meeting Tuesday.

“This is why I choose to stand up here, and this is why I want to fight for everyone else’s rights,” Thompson said.

Thompson is running against current Tom Green County Precinct 2 Constable Deen Dickson. Dickson has currently held the position for 10 years.