Just after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office with the assistance of the Texas Rangers and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on the Porter Fire Department Administrative Offices at the main station, located near FM 1314 on Loop 494. Computers and documents were seized during the execution of the search warrant.
According to First Assistant District Attorney Phil Grant, “the purpose of the search warrant was the ongoing and expanding investigation into Porter Fire Chief Jody Binnion.” Other than that, Grant did not elaborate at this time since it is an ongoing investigation.
Binnion was arrested on November 4 by DPS Trooper Sam Larson .for an alleged driving while intoxicated incident after he left Players Bar on Loop 494. There was no blood drawn at the time, and Binnion refused a breathalyzer test. He was released on bond later that morning.
On December 1, Binnion was charged with Aggravated Perjury after he allegedly lied under oath to a Grand Jury, stating a female friend was with him and his wife at Players on the night of his DWI arrest.
During the Investigation of the incident, a Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Investigator discovered Binnion had allegedly requested a fire truck and firefighters on duty that night to respond to the scene of his DWI arrest for his personal benefit.
Further investigation revealed several others were allegedly with Binnion at Players drinking on Binnion’s credit card tab, which totaled $148, according to authorities.
On November 17, investigators interviewed two people previously named as having been with the Binnion’s at Players the night of his arrest. However, they stated they were not at the club with the chief and his wife that night, contradicting what Binnion’s wife Rachel reportedly testified to the Grand Jury.
Investigators now believe another male and his underage girlfriend were the ones actually drinking alcohol with the Binnion’s at Player’s that fateful night.
Adding to Binnion’s woes, It was also learned that his Assistant Chief allegedly responded to the DWI arrest scene at Binnion’s request, and took possession of Binnion’s truck. A Grand Jury subpoena was issued for time sheets and payroll records of the Assistant Chief to determine if he was, in fact, on duty at the time he was allegedly ordered to respond to the arrest scene by Binnion.
After several more Grand Jury appearances by others with Binnion that night, as well as employees of Players, investigators determined the woman who Binnion and his wife claimed was drinking with them that night was not there at all.
On December 12, the official complaint an information were filed in the County Court at Law #3, formally charging Jody Binnion with Driving While Intoxicated.
Once again, Binnion was arrested, and this time was joined by his wife, Rachel. Both were booked into the Montgomery County Jail on Aggravated Perjury charges and bonded out later that day on a $750 bond.
Binnion was supposedly placed on paid administrative leave by the Emergency Services District #6 Board Members. However, it was learned Tuesday that Binnion was back to his regular duties as Chief of the Porter Fire Department.
EDITORS’ NOTE: THIS INVESTIGATION IS SAID TO BE SPECIFICALLY TO GATHER INFORMATION ON CHIEF BINNION, AND IN NO WAY SHOULD REFLECT UPON THE DEPARTMENT OR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO RISK THEIR LIVES DAILY TO KEEP PORTER AND OTHER AREAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY SAFE. WE CONSIDER THE MEMBERS OF THAT DEPARTMENT AMONG THE BEST IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND ALSO THE BUSIEST. IN ADDITION TO FIGHTING FIRES AND RESCUING VICTIMS TRAPPED IN VEHICLES AND STRUCTURES, THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAINING OF HUNDREDS OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM AROUND THE AREA IN THEIR STATE OF THE ART TRAINING FACILITY.
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