By Sonya Woods Feb 02, 2025 1282 views 84
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A Titus County grand jury has indicted former Mount Pleasant City Manager Ed Thatcher in connection with a travel reimbursement form allegedly completed in March 2022. The indictment asserts that Thatcher created a false entry indicating former, longtime city council member and Mayor Pro Tem Tim Dale drove nearly 900 miles during that month for council-related purposes. Dale, who was defeated in the May 2024 election, reportedly received said payment related to the mileage, but then immediately returned those funds in full to the City.
Last month, the grand jury ‘no billed’ former Mount Pleasant City Council members Galen Adams and Henry Chappell and current Mayor Tracy Craig, Sr. and council member Sherri Spruill---essentially indicating there was not sufficient evidence to proceed further regarding similar, submitted travel reimbursement requests.
In response to the recent indictment of Thatcher, the City of Mount Pleasant issued the following statement:
“On January 15, 2025, the City of Mount Pleasant was made aware that former City Manager, Ed Thatcher, was indicted by a Titus County grand jury for Making a false entry in a Governmental Record. The indictment stems from an investigation by the Texas Rangers into travel reimbursements issued to City Council members. Mr. Thatcher served as City Manager from 2019 until his resignation in May 2024. During the investigation of this matter, the City fully cooperated with the Texas Rangers. As this is an ongoing legal matter, the City cannot further comment at this time. Any questions regarding this matter should be directed to the Titus County District Attorney’s Office.”
“(If convicted), the punishment for this state felony is from 180 days up to 2 years’ confinement,” Titus County District Attorney Charles “Chuck” Bailey explained.
Bailey, who previously held the DA’s position in Titus County for 33 years until 2020, has returned to the office following former DA David Colley’s departure. Colley chose not to run for re-election after one term in office and is now in private practice. Bailey ran unopposed in the recent November 2024 general election.
The District Clerk’s Office has now issued a capias warrant for the arrest of Thatcher.
Sonya Woods
Sonya has followed a lifelong passion for journalism. Sonya began publishing The Tri-County Press on August 29, 2013, providing a weekly newspaper connecting the citizens of Titus, Camp and Morris Counties as well as neighboring residents through responsible community journalism.