Attorney and state lawmaker Ron Reynolds is in the Montgomery County jail after a jury found him guilty of illegally soliciting clients.
Prosecutors say it took the jury just an hour to sentence Reynolds to a year in county jail and a $4000 fine after being convicted of barratry.
Texas law bars attorneys from soliciting clients or disaster claims until at least 30 days after the incident.
“We’re ecstatic. We’re ecstatic both about the conviction and the maximum sentence,” said Montgomery Co. Assistant District Attorney Joel Daniels. “He says the Fort Bend county Democrat paid Robert Ramirez Valdez an average of $1,000 per client that Valdez would bring.
Reynolds was among 8 Houston-area lawyers charged in 2013, but the only one who did not accept a plea deal. His case — previously tried as a felony – was retried as a misdemeanor after a mistrial.
He represented himself during this trial. According to reports he said following the conviction that the jury seemed to have ignored evidence that he didn’t know the clients were found illegally. His former attorney, Vivian King, says the verdict took her by surprise. “I’m stunned at the verdict because. Ron has always maintained his innocence,” King said.
Daniels says the conviction does not require Reynolds to give up his representative seat. But he is running for re-election.
Reynolds has already filed notice of an appeal. He’s also asking to be allowed out of custody pending that appeal.
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