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DA: George attorney should be disqualified due to conflict of interest By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Even as attorneys for Fort Bend County Judge KP George are doubling down on their allegations of prosecutorial misconduct against District Attorney Brian Middleton, prosecutors have filed motions of their own seeking that George’s lead attorney be disqualified because of a potential conflict of interest involving the theft of money from George. The District Attorney’s office has also appointed prominent Houston attorney and media legal analyst Brian Wice as special prosecutor in George’s cases. In motions filed last week, Jared Woodfill and Terry Yates, attorneys for George in his charges of misappropriation of identify and money laundering, expanded on their earlier motions accusing Middleton of moving to indict George out of personal animus after the two had a political falling out when George was still, like Middleton, a Democrat. In June, after the indictments, George switched his party affiliation to Republican. The prosecutor’s office later fired back at George’s attorneys in motions of their own, denying that Middleton acted of animus against George or that his and others’ use of message apps like Signal in discussing George’s cases is evidence of misconduct. They also refute the defense attorneys’ claims that a recording of an interview with Taral Patel, former chief of staff to George and a key witness in his prosecution, was mysteriously rendered unviewable just at the point that Patel was about to implicate Democratic officials (including potentially Middleton himself) in the “fake hate” social media scheme that is the basis for the allegations against George. A second, uncorrupted recording of the interview from a different camera was provided to the defense, they state. In their motions filed on November 18, Woodfill and Yates
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Nehls announces he won’t run in 2026 By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls of Richmond, one of President Donald Trump’s staunchest supporters in Congress, announced Saturday that he will not seek reelection next year. His twin brother, former Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Constable Trever Nehls, almost immediately afterward announced he will seek his brother’s seat as a Republican. Nehls, who served as Fort Bend County Sheriff from 2012-2020, was first elected
in 2020 to represent the 22nd District, which includes much of Fort Bend County (including Richmond, Rosenberg and parts of Sugar Land) and parts of Brazoria, Harris, Wharton and Matagorda Counties. He narrowly defeated Democrat Sri Preston Kulkarni in the closely watched election to take the seat formerly held by Republican Pete Olson. He handily won reelection in both 2022 and 2024. “After more than 30 years in law enforcement serving and protecting my community as a police officer, constable, Fort Bend County Sheriff, an Army
veteran, and six years representing this district in Congress, I have made the decision, after conversations with my beautiful bride and my girls over the Thanksgiving holiday, to focus on my family and return home after this Congress,” Nehls said in the statement. “Before making this decision, I called President Trump personally to let him know of my plans. President Trump has always been a strong ally for our district and a true friend, and I
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Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls of Fort Bend County who has served the 22nd District since 2021, announced on Saturday that he will not seek reelection at the end of his current term. Here he is depicted during a 2021 press conference. File photo
BETTER TOGETHER Fort Bend celebrates children joining forever families on National Adoption Day By Juhi Varma CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On November 21, the typically serious Fort Bend County Justice Center was alive with balloons, cakes, and laughter in honor of National Adoption Day. The celebration honored 26 children who officially joined their forever families, with parents, siblings, grandparents, and cousins – many wearing matching t-shirts – gathered to mark the joyful occasion. “Today is such a huge milestone in all of these kids’ lives, and it’s the ultimate gift given by the parents who are adopting them,” said Jill Curtis, president of the board of directors of Child Advocates of Fort Bend. “These are parents who have chosen these children, and it’s just an incredible gift. Our theme this year is ‘Better Together’, and you can see by everybody’s smiles and love and support that that’s
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Kyle and Jazz Jordan, a couple from Missouri City, celebrate National Adoption Day on November 21 with their newly adopted twin babies, born through surrogacy in Mexico. Photo by Juhi Varma
Holiday events abound in Fort Bend this weekend Community Reports It’s beginning to be that time of year, and there are a number of holiday events planned around Fort Bend County this weekend. Below are some of the notable ones. Sugar Land Christmas Tree Lighting The City of Sugar Land will hold its annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, December 5, from 5-8 p.m. at Sugar Land Town Square, 2711 Plaza Drive. The event will feature live entertainment by a variety of performers, kids’ activities, food and vendors’ booths, and a visit by Santa Claus, concluding with the lighting of the Christmas tree in the plaza. Free parking will be available at Mercer Stadium (16403 Lexington Blvd). Shuttles will run continuously from Mercer Stadium to Sugar Land Town Square from 4:30-9:30 p.m.
Rideshare drop-off and pick up will Farmers Market, held 4-8 p.m. in be by Japanerio’s in Town Square. front of Richmond City Hall. The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be Missouri City Snowfest held at 6 p.m. at City Hall Plaza, and The City of Missouri City will hold the Community Christmas Walk in its 42nd Annual Snowfest on Saturday, historic Downtown Richmond will be held from 6-9 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., there December 6. The festivities will begin at 8 a.m. will be a screening of a holiday movie with the Shuffle Run Run along at Wessendorff Park. On Saturday, December 6, from Cartwright Road. That will be followed by the holiday parade, also along 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Miracle on Main Street Festival will be held in hisCartwright Road. The festival will begin at 3 p.m. toric Downtown Richmond, featuring featuring live music, food, children’s shopping, live music and other perforactivities, and more, and concluding mances, food trucks, a visit from Santa with the Holiday Tree Lighting at 8 Claus, and the People’s Choice awards p.m., at the Missouri City City Hall for the Gingerbread House competition. complex, 1522 Texas Parkway. Rosenberg Hometown Christmas in the Bend Holiday Festival (Richmond) The City of Rosenberg will host The Central Fort Bend Chamber of its Hometown Holiday Festival on Commerce is hosting several events Saturday, December 6, from 12-8 p.m. over the weekend. in historic Downtown Rosenberg (2100 The festivities will begin on Friday, Ave G). This free event will feature compliDecember 5 with the Richmond
A certain jolly old elf is expected to make appearances at many of the holidaythemed events around Fort Bend County this weekend. File photo
mentary photos with beloved holiday characters like the Grinch, Santa and Mrs. Claus, live performances, a live 3D street art show, hay rides and a carousel. Attendees can explore the Lamar CISD art show, embark on a scavenger hunt, play carnival games and enjoy a performance by the Horizon Band. The the Official Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Holiday shopping enthusiasts can
browse offerings from downtown merchants and market vendors, while food lovers can sample offerings from local restaurants and food trucks. A free shuttle service will run between Rosenberg City Hall (2110 4th St.) and Historic Downtown Rosenberg from 12 to 9 p.m. Free parking will also be available at the Downtown Rosenberg Parking Lot (2221 Ave F).
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