East Texas Sheriff Facing Theft, Tampering Counts

CARTHAGE (AP) – The sheriff of an East Texas county has been arrested in a public corruption investigation involving alleged theft, abuse of power and fraud. Texas Rangers and the FBI on Thursday arrested Panola County Sheriff Ron Clinton, who took office in January. Department of Public Safety Trooper Jean Dark says Clinton faces charges of tampering with a government record defraud/harm, abuse of official capacity and theft by a public servant. He’s free on $50,000 bond. Clinton did not immediately return a message for comment Friday. A statement provided Friday from the sheriff’s department in Carthage says two outside agencies conducted the investigation and to contact Texas Rangers.