CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Beeville Mayor Brian Watson arrested Thursday morning on charges of misuse of official information after being indicted in January.
The charge is a third-degree felony.
Watson, who is also an attorney, is accused of using his position in order to get official information from Bee County District Attorney's Office employee Whitney Rushing pertaining to a criminal case against former Beeville City Councilman Eric Holland.
The information, gathered as part of discovery in the case against Holland, was not public information.
The reported offense happened May 5, 2023.
Charges were also brought against Rushing for providing the information.
Watson turned himself in to Texas Rangers on Thursday morning and was taken to the Bee County Jail for processing. He left with his attorney Thursday afternoon.
"It does get your attention, but over my 30 years of experience, I've learned 'Let's wait and see what we have,' because right now all we know is we have an indictment and I can't really develop and opinion about it because I don't have any of the information," said Bee County Sheriff Alden Southmayd.
Bee County DA Jose Aliseada said Thursday his office recused itself from the case last year because of the conflict of interest involved, and a special prosecutor was appointed from the 81st Judicial District in Floresville.
In a statement to 3NEWS, the city of Beeville said Watson remains a member of council, and that a councilmember is only removed if they have been convicted on felony charges.
Watson is being represented by Corpus Christi attorney Nathan Burkett, who released a statement early Thursday evening which reads:
I am disheartened learn that a Bee County grand jury has decided to indict one of its own practicing attorneys for doing his job and following his ethical obligations required by the State Bar of Texas. The conduct for which Brian Watson has been charged is no different than the conduct of any other criminal defense attorney in the state Texas upon receiving new prospective employment: If you think there might be a conflict of interest, you have an ethical duty to investigate that conflict. This is especially important for Brian, as a former assistant district attorney. As a result of asking for information to fulfill his ethical duty to check on a conflict, Brian got caught up in a political firestorm.
Our forefathers understood the importance of (sic) Constitution’s guarantee of a right to a jury trial, and I am confident that the twelve jurors selected to hear Brian’s case will fully exonerate him. But even before that time, we should consider the constitutionality of a law that makes illegal the mere act of asking for and receiving the information required to effectively represent an accused person (a right also constitutionally guaranteed). To let the application of a law stand when enforced in this manner should send a chill down the spine of every person who has ever had a friend or loved one charged with a crime in the State of Texas, from traffic tickets on up.
This is a developing story, stay with 3NEWS for updates.
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