By Jerrie Whiteley / Herald Democrat
This week, Judge Duncan Thomas appointed the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office to handle the prosecution of the six cases indicted on December 19, 2024, related to the Fannin County Courthouse restoration.
Thursday’s news release from the Fannin County District Attorney’s Office said that office recused itself from prosecution of these cases due to a direct conflict of interest since one of the defendants is a sitting county commissioner.
Those indicted in December include former Fannin County Judge Creta “Spanky” Carter, Fannin County Commissioner Precinct 2 Allen Self, former FC Commissioner Precinct 4 Dean Lackey, Architexas employees David Chase and Anne Stimmel, and accountant Michael Rigler. All of them face charges of theft greater than $150,000 and less than $300,000. The indictments are formal charges and not an indication of guilt.
“It is important that the public understand that it would be improper and unethical for our office to be involved in the cases, one reason being that the budget for the DA’s office is subject to approval by the Commissioner’s Court,” the release said. “This by itself could give the appearance that our office could be influenced if we handled the cases.”
All matters involving the prosecution, any possible future hearings, possible pleas or trials will be exclusively handled by the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Any questions or inquiries should be directed to that office.
The charges come from the county’s restoration of its historic courthouse.
In August of 2023, then Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham told the Herald Democrat there were problems with the $30 million newly restored courthouse. Those problems left the county facing a choice between closing the courthouse and going on fire watch which would require someone looking out for fire anytime the building was opened. That requirement arose when the courthouse was inspected. Inspectors found 62 code violations. At the time of the renovation, the commissioners court decided to act as the general contractor for the project instead of hiring a construction manager at risk to oversee the project.
