Texas Deputy Indicted on Theft Charge

Story by click2houston.com

HOUSTON --
Yerrow allegedly padded his time sheet on his extra job at Exxon Mobil. He worked as security coordinator at the company's chemical division headquarters for two decades. Investigators claim that he stole $16,000 by billing for hours he didn't work.

"An employee at Exxon discovered it. They investigated it. They forwarded it to our office. We continued the investigation and eventually felt the need for it to be taken in front of a grand jury," said Kelly Blackburn, a Harris County assistant district attorney.

"He's not guilty. There's a misunderstanding at Exxon," defence attorney Neal Davis said.

Yerrow's attorney said as security coordinator, much of Yerrow's work was done off-site, often on the telephone, and that he had a verbal understanding that he could bill for those hours, as well as the time he spent patrolling the facility.

"He had an oral agreement with his boss. He worked there for 20 years without incident billing in this manner, and the first time he heard of it was when an investigator came and talked to him from the district attorney's office," Davis said.

Yerrow was relieved of duty with pay while awaiting trial. His boss, Fort Bend Constable Rob Cook, offered to testify in his defence.
"He's been my chief deputy since 1989. I know he's not a thief and I know he's not a liar," Cook said.

The charge against Yerrow is theft by a public servant, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Yerrow has been a law enforcement officer for 31 years. He formerly worked for Harris County Constable Precinct 5 and the Harris County Sheriff's Office.